By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Presidential Advisor on the Economy, Mr Seth Terkper, has called for a strategic transformation of Ghana’s mining sector, urging the country to move away from exporting raw minerals towards processing them locally to generate greater economic benefits.
He said Ghana must prioritise value addition in the mining industry to create more employment opportunities, increase export earnings and strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Mr Terkper noted that although mining remained a major contributor to Ghana’s economy, the country was not fully benefiting from its mineral wealth because much of the resources continued to be exported in their raw form.
According to him, Ghana must develop the industrial capacity and infrastructure needed to process its mineral resources locally and export finished or value-added products.
He explained that moving beyond raw mineral exports would allow the country to retain a greater share of the economic value generated from its natural resources while creating opportunities for local businesses and industries.
The former Finance Minister made the remarks at the China-Ghana Mining Cooperation Conference 2026 in Accra.
Mr Terkper’s call comes amid growing discussions about how Ghana can maximise the economic benefits of its mineral resources through local industrialisation, investment and stronger partnerships.
He emphasised the need for a deliberate economic strategy that positions the mining sector as a driver of industrial growth rather than relying mainly on the export of unprocessed minerals.
The proposed shift towards value addition is expected to support job creation, promote technology transfer, expand local manufacturing and improve Ghana’s earnings from the mining industry.
