His Excellency the President of the Republic, Honorable Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, The Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, Distinguished Traditional Authorities, Honorable Ministers of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives from Civil Society Organizations, Leaders from the Mining Industry, Esteemed Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen
I bring you warm and fraternal greetings from Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. Her Excellency conveys her deep appreciation to the organizers of this critical forum and extends her sincere gratitude to all stakeholders present here today, officials from government, district, municipal, and metropolitan assemblies, development partners, civil society actors, industry players, community leaders, traditional rulers, and the media for your unwavering commitment to this national dialogue
The theme of this gathering “Sustainable Mineral Wealth: Ensuring Equitable Benefits for All” is not only timely but deeply aligned with our collective aspiration to build a fairer, greener, and more inclusive Ghana.
Indeed, Ghana is a country richly endowed. For decades, our mineral wealth ranging from gold, bauxite, manganese, and most recently, lithium has supported our economy, shaped our trade relations, and driven significant public investments in infrastructure, education, health, and industrial growth. These resources have bolstered our GDP, strengthened our fiscal capacity, and provided employment to thousands of our citizens. Ghana has been positioned as a global player in the extractive industry, and as a critical destination for foreign direct investment.
However, while we celebrate these gains, we must also confront an undeniable truth: the benefits of our mineral wealth have not been equitably shared. In too many cases, those who live closest to the mines remain the furthest from prosperity. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the stark reality in some of Ghana’s most prominent mining towns: Akwatia, once the heartbeat of diamond mining; Awaso, home to rich bauxite reserves; and Obuasi, famous for its gold. These communities, despite their immense contributions to the national treasury, often bear the brunt of environmental degradation, poor infrastructure, and the erosion of traditional livelihoods.
Today, the youth in these towns are rising, not out of defiance, but with a powerful and legitimate call for justice. They are demanding their fair share of the wealth extracted from beneath their feet. Their voices are growing louder, their resolve stronger. And let us be clear: failure to address this imbalance risks deepening distrust and social unrest. We must seize opportunities like this forum to initiate honest, inclusive, and actionable dialogue before discontent hardens into division.
Her Excellency believes that the true measure of our national progress is not in how much we extract from the ground, but in how many lives we elevate from poverty, how many communities we empower, and how fairly we distribute the dividends of our natural endowment. It is not enough to extract value, we must also extract hope, opportunity, and justice for all.
Sustainable mineral wealth must mean shared mineral wealth. It must mean that the sector uplifts, not displaces; empowers, not excludes. Women, youth, traditional institutions, and local communities must no longer remain bystanders or afterthoughts in this vital sector, they must be active partners, decision-makers, and beneficiaries.
To move toward this vision, we must first deepen collaboration. No single actor can deliver the transformation we seek. We need stronger, transparent, and accountable partnerships between government, mining companies, traditional leaders, civil society, and affected communities. We must create mechanisms for regular consultation, conflict resolution, and joint decision-making that reflect the values of trust, equity, and inclusion.
We must also be intentional about equity; this requires a critical look at how mineral revenues are allocated and spent. It means addressing the developmental disparities between resource-rich regions and other parts of the country and also enforcing community benefit agreements and ensuring that the Minerals Development Fund serves its true purpose, that’s direct and measurable improvement in the lives of Ghanaians, especially those most impacted by mining operations.
At this point, sustainability must guide everything we do. Sustainability is not a buzzword. It is a commitment to environmental responsibility, long-term national benefit, and intergenerational justice. The scars of unregulated mining polluted rivers, deforested lands, and abandoned pits must give way to a new era of responsible, regenerative mining practices. We must invest in reclamation, adopt green technologies, and enforce stricter compliance with environmental standards.
But beyond these ideals, we need concrete policy action. Her Excellency urges all stakeholders’ researchers, policymakers, development experts, and grassroots leaders to generate innovative, pragmatic policy recommendations from this forum. Recommendations that enhance the accountability and transparency of disbursement structures like the Minerals Development Fund, and that prioritize efficiency in service delivery. Our people are not looking for fine speeches. They are looking for results they can feel in their schools, their roads, their water systems, and their livelihoods.
This is why Her Excellency is especially heartened by the diversity of voices represented here today. From the private sector to youth advocates, from development partners to academic institutions, this is the kind of broad coalition we need to shape a new future for Ghana’s mineral sector. A future where the question is no longer who gets what, but how can we all win together?
Let this forum mark a turning point. Let it be remembered not merely as another event, but as a moment of national recommitment. A moment when we decided, collectively, to govern our mineral resources with equity, integrity, and vision.
A moment when we agreed that the wealth beneath our soil must benefit every Ghanaian not in theory, but in practice.
A moment we chart a course that empowers local communities, upholds the dignity of traditional institutions, protects our environment, and places future generations at the very heart of our decisions.
On behalf of Her Excellency, Prof. Naana Jean Opoku Agyemang, I thank you all once again for your presence, your contributions, and most importantly, your resolve. May your deliberations be insightful, your partnerships strengthened, and your actions impactful. Let us work together to build a mining sector that serves not just the economy but the people. And not just today but for generations to come.
Thank you, and may God bless our homeland Ghana.
