Former Chief Justice and Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Justice Sophia Akuffo, is calling for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s mining agreements to ensure the country gains greater economic benefits from its natural resources.

Justice Akuffo argues that the current agreements mirror colonial-era arrangements, enabling foreign companies to make substantial profits while Ghana receives minimal returns.

In a press conference focused on maximizing the benefits of Ghana’s natural resources, she stressed the importance of policy reforms to foster local value creation and drive economic transformation.

“There is a need to set up a small committee of about five experienced Ghanaian experts in the natural resources sector to review and recommend necessary amendments to all natural resource laws in Ghana to optimize the benefits of natural resources to the country,” she suggested.

She also proposed amending the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) to grant local governments a greater role in managing mineral resources, ensuring that District Assemblies are directly involved in their administration.