The recent release of the Global Mining Investment Attractiveness Index reveals a troubling decline in Ghana’s position, with our country falling seven places in the global ranking of mining investment destinations, from 46th in 2024 to 53rd in 2025.
More concerning is the fact that only sixty-eight (68) countries were assessed in 2025, compared with eighty-two (82) in 2024, when Ghana held the 46th position.
This development is concerning for many stakeholders in the mining industry, and as the immediate past Minister responsible for the mining sector, this decline constitutes a serious challenge to Ghana’s competitiveness and its ability to attract long-term investment in the sector.
The latest Ranking positions Ghana behind other African countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Morocco, and Botswana, indicating a relative decline in our country’s attractiveness to mining investors.
This trend is particularly troubling given the central role of the mining sector in Ghana’s economy. For decades, it has been a cornerstone of national development, contributing substantially to export earnings, foreign exchange inflows, fiscal revenues, employment, and broader economic growth.
The Global Mining Investment Attractiveness ranks jurisdictions “according to the extent that public policy factors encourage or discourage mining investment.” Ghana’s decline in this ranking, therefore, reflects a negative perception of Ghana’s public policy environment affecting mining exploration and investment. This has the potential to erode all the gains made during the eight (8) years of the Akufo-Addo administration
Under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, the government implemented transformational policies that positioned Ghana as the mining hub in Africa and among the best investment destinations on the continent. These policies resulted in, among others,
Save the Earth for future Generations.
No human technology can replace `nature`s technology`, perfected over hundreds of millions of years to sustain life on Earth. For those in power, the questions are straightforward. Are they prepared to jeopardize their careers – or their profits – for our children’s children? Are they ready to put short-term politicking aside and help deliver a sustainable plan for the future? Are they willing to take difficult decisions on behalf of voters they’ll never meet?
- Ghana overtaking South Africa to become the leading producer of gold on the continent, with gold production hitting a record 4.9 million ounces in 2024 and generating in excess of $10billion in export receipts;
- The implementation of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, which saw an increase in gold reserve from 8.77 tonnes to 30.53 tonnes in 2024.
- The construction of the first greenfield mine in more than a decade by Cardinal Namdini, which poured its first gold in October 2024.
- The construction of new mines in Ahafo and Upper West Regions by Newmont Ahafo North and Azumah Resources, respectively.
- The expansion of existing mines and the revamping of dormant mines in Obuasi and Bibiani;
- A sustained investment in the exploration and exploitation of lithium.
- The construction of a 400kg gold refinery to add value to our gold resources.
- an agreement for the construction of a $450,000,000.00 manganese refinery to add value to manganese resources;
- The construction and operationalisation of Regional Offices in Kumasi, Bole, Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga and Tarkwa, and District Offices in Kyebi, Bibiani, Damang and Akyem Oda for the Minerals Commission to meet the demands of the expanding sector.
- The implementation of a comprehensive local content policy that increased the items on the list of goods and services reserved for local procurement from nineteen (19) in 2016 to fifty-one (51) as of January 1, 2025.
- The implementation of a robust capacity building programme that trained over fifty (50) mining engineers in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia to support the work of the Minerals Commission.