Bold claim: stable, long-term policies are the lifeblood of Ghana’s mining sector, and without them, investment and growth struggle to take root. The Ghana Chamber of Mines emphasized this truth once again, urging a predictable policy environment that supports both national interests and sustainable industry expansion. Their message came during the 11th Ghana Mining Industry Awards (GMIA) at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.
President of the Chamber, Michael Edem Akafia, framed Ghana’s mining trajectory as at a pivotal crossroads, shaped by global competition, rising social expectations, and the essential need to maintain investor confidence. He highlighted that policy volatility—especially in fiscal regimes—poses real dangers for mining projects that span many years and require substantial capital. “Mining investments are capital-intensive, high-risk, and multi-decade in nature,” he explained, urging the government to foster a policy landscape that is stable, transparent, and balanced to advance both public interests and business growth.
Akey concern raised was the potential impact of a sliding-scale royalty regime. Akafia warned that if the royalty structure becomes overly burdensome, it could dampen investment appetite and slow the sector’s expansion. To further strengthen governance of mineral revenues, he advocated for the creation of a Minerals Revenue Management Act, modeled after Ghana’s petroleum revenue governance framework. Such a law, he argued, would boost transparency, accountability, and ensure revenues benefit host communities and the broader economy.
Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, opened with praise for the 2026 Budget’s removal of VAT on exploration activities. He called this move a bold step toward drawing in new investments, growing mineral reserves, and boosting Ghana’s appeal as a mining destination. Dr. Ashigbey also pointed to productive collaborations with regulators—the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources—as key to policy clarity, responsible mining practices, and sustained value creation for the nation.
Both leaders underscored the danger posed by illegal mining and urged stronger enforcement and greater support for state institutions combatting the activity. They stressed that responsible mining is essential to safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources, protecting the industry’s reputation, and upholding the rule of law.
The GMIA event, themed “Celebrating Excellence in Mining: Creating Value Beyond Minerals,” honored notable achievements in safety, innovation, community development, and operational performance. It also showcased human-impact stories, including beneficiaries of the Chamber’s educational and skills development programs, illustrating the sector’s vital role in uplifting communities.
Awards for the evening included AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine as Mining Company of the Year and Dr. Catherine Kuupol Kutor, General Manager of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine, as Mining Personality of the Year. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented posthumously to the late Kwame Addo-Kufuor for his significant contributions to the industry.
Event sponsors and supporters spanned major industry players—Gold Fields, AngloGold Ashanti, Zijin Golden Ridge, Newmont, Newcore/Cape Coast Resources, Perseus Mining Ghana, UMA, Sandvik Ghana, Interplast, and Stanbic Bank—along with SMT Ghana, Asanko Gold Ghana, DRA, Mining Tools Ghana, Carmeuse Lime Products, and Liebherr.
As the sector stands at the intersection of digitalisation, decarbonisation, and changing mineral demands, the Chamber reiterated its readiness to collaborate with government, workers, communities, and civil society. The shared ambition is a modern, ethical, and globally competitive mining industry rooted in sustainability and policy certainty.
Both the Chamber’s President and CEO closed by reaffirming the industry’s role as a committed partner in Ghana’s development, asserting that stable, transparent policies will unlock the sector’s full potential for future generations. Thought-provoking question to readers: do you agree that policy stability is the single most important driver of long-term mining investment, or are there other factors you’d highlight as equally or more influential?
