President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has touted his administration’s “boldest and most progressive” policies in the mining sector as a cornerstone of his legacy.
The President made this statement during his final State of the Nation Address at the Parliament on Friday, January 3, 2025.
“We owe it to future generations of Ghanaians to extract our minerals in a manner that protects our lands and water bodies,” the president said.
Prez. Akufo-Addo defended his administration’s efforts to tackle the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
He acknowledged that the fight was politically costly, leading to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) losing several parliamentary seats in the 2020 elections.
“I was prepared to put my presidency on the line in defense of our lands and water bodies,” he said, underscoring the personal and political risks he took to curb illegal mining activities.
The president clarified that his administration’s efforts were not against mining itself but against irresponsible practices that harm the environment.
“I welcome the many loud converts to the fight against galamsey that suddenly appear in the run-up to the 2024 elections,” he remarked, calling for unity in protecting Ghana’s environment.
He noted that these policies helped Ghana surpass South Africa to become the leading gold producer on the continent, achieving a record production of four million ounces in 2023.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted several milestones in the mining sector, including the revival of dormant mines like Awaso and Bibiani, as well as the establishment of the Cardinal Namdini mine in northern Ghana.
He also announced the ongoing construction of new mines in Ahafo and the Upper West Region, adding that a 400-kilogram capacity gold refinery had been built through a public-private partnership to enhance value addition.
Beyond gold, he mentioned that discussions have been concluded for a $450 million manganese refinery at Nsuta, and institutions like the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation have laid the foundation for industrializing Ghana’s natural resources.
“These initiatives aim to generate significant revenue, create jobs, and ensure that the wealth of our resources benefits the people,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo also highlighted achievements in forestry and environmental conservation, noting that 121,000 hectares of degraded forests were restored under the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy between 2017 and 2023. Additionally, over 52 million trees were planted under the Green Ghana Project.
“In 2023, Ghana became the second African country to receive results-based funding from the World Bank Carbon Fund for reducing emissions, further cementing the country’s leadership in climate action,” he added
