Major players in the global and African mining industry on Wednesday converged in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, for a three-day mining expo.
The West Africa Mining and Power Expo, hosted by the Ghana Chamber of Mines, attracted exhibitors from 20 countries, including Ghana, China, South Africa, India, Australia, Germany, France, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said during the opening that Ghana’s ambition in mining goes beyond simply maintaining its position as the leader of gold production in Africa.
Buah said Ghana wants to change how mining is done by focusing on creating value instead of just relying on its natural resources, looking at success in terms of how mining helps industry, creates jobs, involves local people, and improves lives while meeting high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
“We are overhauling our regulatory and legal frameworks to reflect emerging realities, including involving ESG standards, technological change, and the need for inclusive growth,” Buah said, adding that the country aims to maintain investor confidence while ensuring that mining contributes more directly to national development.
Nigerian Solid Minerals Development Minister Oladele Henry Alake said a global shift toward clean energy technologies, electric mobility, digital infrastructure, and sustainable industrial systems has dramatically increased demand for critical minerals, many of which are abundantly available in Africa, particularly within West Africa.
“This moment is a unique chance for our region to change from just being a supplier of raw materials to actively taking part in global markets by using responsible mining, processing resources locally, integrating industries in the region, and developing energy strategically,” Alake added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
