President Mahama Calls For Regional Cooperation To Boost Africa’s Mineral Processing
President John Dramani Mahama has called for greater cooperation among African countries to strengthen local mineral processing, saying Ghana’s efforts would yield better results if coordinated with those of neighbouring states.
Speaking at the Mining in Motion Conference 2026 in Accra on Monday, 19th October, 2026, he identified Agenda 2063, the African Mining Vision and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as key frameworks that could support collaboration among countries on the continent.
“We must translate these frameworks into coordinated investments, regional infrastructure and larger markets for African producers. As Ghana prepares to assume the chairmanship of the African Union in 2027, we will carry the spirit of the Accra Research into this collective effort,” he said.
President Mahama also highlighted the role of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), which was established to oversee the implementation of the Africa Mining Vision, in helping African countries build the capacity needed to develop mineral processing arrangements.
He urged African Union member states that had not ratified the AMDC statutes to complete the process and submit their instruments of ratification to the African Union without further delay.
“We must support the AMDC with dependable funding, technical expertise and clear expectations for delivery. It can help our countries share geological knowledge, strengthen negotiating capacity, and develop regional value chains,” he added.
The President further criticised past mineral agreements, arguing that weak negotiations and the allocation of extensive mining concessions to foreign interests had prevented African countries from retaining a fair share of the wealth generated from their natural resources.
He said the situation had contributed to significant financial outflows from Africa, even as many countries and mining communities continued to face poverty and difficult living conditions.
“This legacy of the colonial era accounted for much of the poverty and suffering experienced across the continent,” he added.
The conference was held under the theme, “One Continent, One Voice of Minerals – Aligning Africa’s Mineral Future.”
