Alhaji Yusif Sulemana urges Chinese firms to invest in mineral processing

Dr. Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has called on Chinese investors to support Ghana’s strategic transition from a raw material exporter to a hub for mineral value addition. Addressing delegates at the 2026 China (Guangxi)-ASEAN Mining Cooperation Conference in Nanning, China, the Deputy Minister declared that the government’s priority is no longer the simple extraction and export of raw minerals. Instead, the focus has shifted toward building a mining industry that prioritizes local processing and industrial expansion. During his address, Sulemana outlined a vision for the sector that emphasizes technology transfer and sustainable industrial growth. He explained that Ghana is seeking partners who are willing to invest in the infrastructure necessary to refine minerals within the country’s borders. This shift is intended to maximize the economic benefits derived from the nation's vast mineral wealth, ensuring that the mining sector contributes more significantly to the gross domestic product beyond traditional royalty payments and taxes. The Deputy Minister highlighted that the collaboration with Chinese firms should be rooted in shared prosperity and technical advancement. By leveraging China’s advanced mining technologies and manufacturing capabilities, Ghana aims to modernize its mining operations and develop a robust secondary sector for mineral-based products. Sulemana emphasized that such partnerships would not only create high-skilled employment opportunities for Ghanaians but also foster a more resilient and self-sufficient national economy. This outreach in Nanning underscores the government’s commitment to its industrialization agenda, which seeks to decouple economic growth from the volatile pricing of raw commodity exports. By pitching directly to international investors, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is positioning Ghana as a competitive destination for capital-intensive processing projects. The success of this strategy will rely on maintaining a stable regulatory environment that encourages long-term commitments from global industrial leaders.