Ghana advocates for equal, mutually beneficial mining partnerships at Russian-African dialogue

Ghana has called for a new approach to international mining cooperation, stressing that future partnerships must prioritise local mineral processing, technology transfer and skills development rather than the export of unprocessed natural resources.

The position was presented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Isaac Tandoh, who spoke on behalf of the Government of Ghana at the Ministerial Roundtable of the Second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Ghana’s call reflects the need for African countries to derive greater economic benefits from their vast mineral wealth.

Although eight of the world’s 20 leading gold-producing countries are in Africa, only a small proportion of the continent’s natural resources undergo processing locally.

As Africa’s leading gold producer, Ghana is therefore placing greater emphasis on partnerships that support domestic value addition and strengthen its industrial capacity.

The dialogue, taking place from October 12 to 16, 2026, is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the UNESCO International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education, and Saint Petersburg Mining University, named after Empress Catherine II.

The gathering has attracted more than 500 participants, including representatives from over 40 African countries, heads of agencies and organisations, academics and industry specialists.

Discussions are focused on cooperation in resource management, technological advancement and engineering education.

Addressing the Ministerial Session, Mr Tandoh reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to determining the direction of its mineral sector in line with its national development priorities.

He said the country remained willing to collaborate with Russia and other technologically advanced nations, particularly in knowledge exchange and the adoption of modern mining technologies.

He emphasised, however, that such cooperation must produce tangible and lasting benefits for Ghana.

Technology transfer and technical training, he explained, should be organised in ways that strengthen local institutions, equip Ghanaian engineers with advanced competencies and build indigenous expertise.

Partnerships, he stressed, must not be limited to extracting and exporting minerals while leaving the country with little industrial or technological benefit.

“All future cooperations must move beyond simple raw material extraction toward a partnership of sovereign equals,” he noted.

Mr Tandoh further highlighted Ghana’s efforts to diversify its mineral development agenda beyond established resources, including gold, to emerging and strategically important commodities such as lithium, iron ore and bauxite.

He cited the roles of state-backed institutions, including the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC), in advancing the country’s ambitions for domestic mineral processing and industrial development.

He also drew attention to improvements in Ghana’s regulatory and monitoring systems, including the Minerals Commission’s digital Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) and the use of geofencing technology.

These tools support more effective oversight of mineral rights and mining activities, helping to promote compliance with established regulations and safeguard the interests of the state, investors, communities and the wider Ghanaian public.

Concluding his remarks, the Minerals Commission CEO called for the establishment of a formal Ghana-Russia Mining Cooperation Framework anchored in reciprocity, institutional collaboration and shared economic gains.

He noted that Russia’s demand for critical mineral resources could complement Ghana’s resource potential, creating opportunities for strategic cooperation.

He maintained that any such arrangement should go beyond conventional trade in raw materials to support industrial development, technical capacity building and knowledge transfer through Ghanaian institutions.

Ghana’s position at the dialogue underscores its broader objective of transforming mineral wealth into sustainable economic growth, stronger domestic industries and skilled employment, while engaging international partners on terms that respect national sovereignty and deliver measurable benefits to both sides.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith