Mahama: Time for Ghanaians to Take Charge of Their Natural Resources
President John Dramani Mahama calls for a shift towards local ownership and participation in Ghana's mining sector as tensions rise over the expired lease of Damang Mines.
- Mahama advocates for greater local involvement in Ghana’s mining sector
- Mahama highlights the urgency of empowering Ghanaians to manage large-scale mining operations
- NDC plans a new policy to increase local content
President John Dramani Mahama is calling for greater local participation in the exploration and management of Ghana’s natural resources, particularly as the country faces a rising dispute over the expired lease of Damang Mines.
During his address at the inaugural Executive Ministerial Retreat in Ada, Mahama emphasized the importance of empowering Ghanaians to take control of large-scale mining operations.
With the country steadily building its capacity in human resources, technology, and investment, he stressed that the time has come to prioritize local ownership and involvement in the sector.
“We now possess the expertise, capital, and technology to manage our own natural resource concessions,” Mahama asserted. “It’s time to ensure Ghanaians have a larger stake in our nation’s resources.”
His comments come amid ongoing tensions between the government and Damang Mines, whose 30-year mining lease has recently expired. Mahama sees this as a key opportunity for transferring mining concessions to capable local entities.
The former president also unveiled plans by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to develop a policy promoting indigenous participation, aimed at boosting local content in the mining industry and ensuring more significant benefits for Ghanaians from the nation’s rich mineral resources.
“Africa is ready. Ghana is ready. We must transition from being mere hosts of multinational operations to active participants in the wealth they generate,” he concluded.
