The Ghana Chamber of Mines expects manganese production in 2024 to exceed 5 million tonnes.

According to the Chamber, this will mark one of the biggest production in three years, solidifying the country’s position as one of the largest producers on the African continent.

Speaking at a Breakfast Meeting with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Joshua Mortoti, said due to the high turnover in mineral production, the value added by the mining sector to the economy increased significantly in 2023.

“With a projected output range of 1.1 million ounces to 1.3 million ounces in 2024 from the small-scale sector, domestic gold output is expected to exceed 4.5 million ounces in 2024. Regarding manganese production, the planned output for 2024 is expected to double to over 5 million tonnes”, he said.

He bemoaned some factors affecting the extractive sector, pointing out to encroachment by illegal miners, high fiscal and regulatory cost and uncertainty around implementing the ‘Gold for Oil Programme’ and how it will affect small-scale miners’ operations.

“The main downside risks for the mining industry for our outlook in 2024 is we not being too sure on the implementation of some policies and illegal miners’ encroachment”, he added.

In 2022, an estimated volume of 3.2 million metric tons of manganese was produced in Ghana. This was against the 5.4 million metric tons produced in 2019, which was the highest since 2009.