President John Dramani Mahama has outlined a sweeping new vision to reposition Ghana from a mere exporter of raw minerals to a regional powerhouse for refining, manufacturing, and clean energy innovation.

Speaking at the Mining in Motion Global Summit in Kumasi, President Mahama delivered a strong critique of Ghana’s historical approach to mineral extraction, describing it as a model that enriches foreign economies while leaving Ghana dependent and under-industrialised.

“We must move beyond extraction to transformation,” the President said. “Refining our gold, producing jewellery, converting lithium into battery components, and processing bauxite into alumina and aluminium is the path to a resilient and diversified economy.”

Turning gold into growth

President Mahama highlighted the early success of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), which he said has already generated $2.7 billion in export earnings. Through a strengthened partnership with the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), the Board is leading a renewed effort to retain more value from Ghana’s gold exports.

A key part of that effort, he announced, is a new track-and-trace system designed to certify all exported gold according to strict environmental and ethical standards.

But the President's ambitions go further. He said GoldBod will now play a central role in developing domestic gold refineries and jewellery manufacturing hubs. “This is about owning our story — from mine to market,” he said.

Mining as a springboard for industrialisation

Despite being Africa’s leading gold producer and sitting on rich deposits of lithium, iron ore and bauxite, Ghana has yet to translate this natural wealth into widespread prosperity. President Mahama attributed this disconnect to decades of external control over mining operations and the absence of strong local industrial links.

That is set to change.

He announced a policy shift to connect mining to other key sectors — including manufacturing, energy, logistics, and skills training — with support from research institutions and technical universities. Ghanaian ownership across the mining value chain will also be expanded through stock exchange listings and other investment platforms.

Clean energy minerals, clean opportunities

On lithium and other critical minerals used in electric vehicles and renewable energy, President Mahama unveiled plans to position Ghana as West Africa’s clean energy hub. He promised clear regulations to attract long-term investors, encourage technology transfer, and ensure Ghanaian participation in new industries.

“Our goal is to become a regional centre for battery production and green technologies,” he said, noting Ghana’s strategic advantage as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

Building continental alliances

The President also called for pan-African collaboration to ensure that Africa’s mineral wealth benefits Africans. He proposed joint ventures with countries like Guinea (bauxite), the DRC (cobalt), and South Africa (platinum), saying “mutual beneficiation” must replace competition in the continent’s resource-rich economies.

Reclaiming the land

In a nod to environmental sustainability, Mahama said GoldBod and its private sector partners will begin restoring 10,000 hectares of land degraded by mining — part of a broader effort to align resource development with climate resilience.