The Minister nominee for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called for a comprehensive approach to indigenise Ghana's mining sector.

Speaking during his vetting on Monday, January 27, he stated the need to prioritise the development of local expertise and ensure that Ghanaians take leading roles in managing the country’s vast natural resources.

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah highlighted the significant changes in the mining industry over the past three decades, pointing out that technological advancements now offer new opportunities to harness resources more efficiently.

However, he noted the importance of ensuring these advancements benefit the people of Ghana directly.

“We must begin a process of indigenising these services and building the capacity of Ghanaians to run large mining companies. I believe we can achieve this if we set our minds to it and put in systems that support indigenous Ghanaians in this effort,” he stated.

The Minister nominee underscored the critical role of value addition in the mining sector, highlighting the need to ensure that minerals extracted from the country create long-term benefits for Ghanaians.

He also advocated for policies that require companies to process raw materials locally, thereby maximising economic benefits and creating jobs.

“Thirty years ago, the technology required to do mining was not in place. Companies came here and brought all the experts to undertake development and services, costing millions and billions of dollars. We need to ensure that value addition is done here in Ghana and that we build systems to support this vision,” he explained.

As the government explores new mineral resources, he insisted on the importance of learning from past experiences and ensuring that the right structures are in place to manage these resources effectively. “We must insist that the right things are done to ensure these minerals benefit us all,” he added.