The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has warned that government will not tolerate the practice of foreign companies hiding behind Ghanaian names to secure contracts while retaining full control and benefits.

Speaking at the 2026 Local Content Summit in Takoradi, Mr Buah described the practice as as a theft of opportunity and a betrayal, urging Ghanaians not to settle for crumbs when they can own the bakery.

“The practice where foreign companies hide behind Ghanaian names using our people as mere mask to satisfy regulatory requirement while retaining all the control and the benefit is a theft of opportunity and a betrayal of everything this summit stands for,” he said.

The Minister said that such arrangements defeat the purpose of local participation policies in the mining sector. He made it clear that authorities would not look on unconcerned.

“We frown on, we will not condone any form of fronting using Ghanaians. Let me state it,” he said.

Mr Buah explained that the Minerals Commission has developed a mining local content and local procurement policy framework that places Ghanaian participation at the centre of the industry.

“The Minerals Commission has developed a mining local content and local procurement policy framework that prioritizes Ghanaian participation, not as an afterthought, but as a strategic imperative,” he noted.

He added that a special purpose vehicle is being established to drive sustainable partnerships and industrialisation in the sector.

“We are moving steadily and surely from policy to practical to practice,” he said.

Addressing Ghanaian entrepreneurs, the Minister urged them not to accept token roles in their own economy.

“To my fellow Ghanaian brothers and sisters, do not set your bed right for crumbs when you can own the bakery,” he said.

He pointed out that while government can create the right conditions for growth, the private sector must also step up.

“Government can create the enabling environment, provide policies, incentives, and infrastructure, but the onus of supplying entrepreneurial energy, innovation, and partnerships lies with the rest of us,” he said.

Mr Buah encouraged foreign investors to see Ghana as more than a source of raw materials. “Ghana is not merely a destination for extraction, but a partner in progress when we form joint ventures with Ghanaian partners,” he said.

He added that companies which invest in local supply chains, share technology and train Ghanaians are securing their own long-term future.

“When we invest in local supply development, when we share technology and train our people, you are not just fulfilling a regulatory requirement, you are building a sustainable future for your own operations because a prosperous, skilled, and empowered local community is the best guarantee of operational stability,” he said.

“To our Ghanaian entrepreneurs and businesses, we have opened the door. The opportunity is here,” he added.