Prez. Mahama Announces Major Review of Mining Laws
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that his government has commenced a far-reaching review of Ghana’s mining laws and regulatory framework to strengthen local participation and ensure Ghanaian-owned businesses derive greater value from the country’s mineral resources.
Addressing participants at the 2026 Mining Sector Local Content Summit held at Palms by Eagle in Takoradi on February 18, the President said the reforms are designed to reposition the mining industry as a driver of indigenous industrial growth. He stressed that Ghanaian enterprises must transition from playing marginal roles in the sector to occupying more strategic and influential positions.
According to President Mahama, the objective is to move local firms beyond the supply of basic consumables and services into the production of heavy equipment, machinery, and innovative technological solutions tailored to the mining industry. He noted that such transformation would enable Ghanaian companies to compete effectively and integrate more deeply into the mining value chain.
The ongoing review, he explained, will assess existing legislation, regulatory processes, and investment policies to identify gaps that limit local growth. The aim is to eliminate bottlenecks that perpetuate dependence on foreign expertise and imports, while creating a more enabling environment for domestic industrial expansion.
He further indicated that mining companies would be encouraged to prioritise genuine capacity building within Ghana. Measures under consideration include promoting equity participation for local firms, strengthening technology transfer arrangements, and institutionalising knowledge-sharing practices as standard requirements rather than optional commitments.
President Mahama underscored that the initiative forms part of a broader national economic transformation strategy focused on deepening value addition across key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. Empowering Ghanaian businesses within the mining ecosystem, he said, would generate sustainable employment, expand technical skills, stimulate industrial development, and ensure that a larger share of mineral wealth is retained within the country.
