By: Mohammed Faisel Mustapha / Felix Ernest Odamtten
GHANA has called for a new approach to international mining partnerships that prioritises local processing, technology transfer and value addition instead of raw material exports.
The call was made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, at the ministerial roundtable of the Second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Mr. Tandoh said Ghana, as Africa’s leading gold producer, is determined to pursue partnerships that will enable the country to process more of its mineral resources locally and retain greater economic value.
He noted that although eight of the world’s 20 leading gold-producing countries are in Africa, only about two per cent of the continent’s natural resources are processed locally. He said this highlights the need for African countries to rethink their approach to mineral exploitation.
“All future cooperations must move beyond simple raw material extraction toward a partnership of sovereign equals,” Mr. Tandoh stated.
Mr. Tandoh said Ghana remains open to knowledge sharing and the transfer of advanced mining technologies from Russia and other technologically advanced countries. However, he stressed that such partnerships must be genuine, structured and firmly embedded in Ghanaian institutions to ensure local engineers and technical professionals acquire new skills.
He said cooperation should not become a one-way arrangement where Ghana exports its resources while relying on foreign partners for expertise.
He also highlighted Ghana’s expanding interest in critical minerals including lithium, iron ore and bauxite, and pointed to state-backed frameworks such as the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) as key to the country’s diversification drive.
Mr. Tandoh further cited Ghana’s modernised regulatory environment, including the Commission’s digital Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) and the use of geofencing technology, to strengthen transparency and accountability in the sector.
As part of his address, he called for the establishment of a formal Ghana-Russia Mining Cooperation Framework based on reciprocity, mutual benefit and sustainable development.
He said Russia’s demand for critical minerals matches Ghana’s resource potential, presenting opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in technical training, industrial development and institutional strengthening.
The Second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue is being held in Saint Petersburg from October 12 to 16, 2026. Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the UNESCO International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education and Saint Petersburg Mining University, the event has brought together over 500 participants, including representatives from over 40 African countries and more than 100 heads of agencies and organisations.
The dialogue seeks to explore cooperation in sustainable natural resource management, technological innovation and engineering education.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
