Ghana is aiming to become Africa's mining hub, with all mining and associated operations, as well as different connections, centered and taking place there.
Through that end, the country is already constructing a regulatory and legal framework aimed at retaining the complete value chain of the mining sector, from exploration to mining, refining, smelting, and downstream manufacturing, as well as support and financial services.
This was revealed in an interview with Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, during the just concluded "Mining Indaba" global conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
Expounding on the ambitious African agenda, the minister stated that the 2014 mining policy was undergoing a significant revision in order to provide a clear legislative framework that would ensure a win-win situation for the state, its residents, and the investment community.
Mr Jinapor said that Ghana has also begun a series of large bilateral conversations with mining behemoths throughout the world, including Rand Refinery, AngloGold Ashanti, Australia, American, and Nigerian partners, in order to solidify the move.
The presidential vision
"We want Ghana to serve as a launching pad for our skills and services." Mr Jinapor explained, "Essentially, it is the President's vision; that is, what we are aiming to achieve - what he is converting Ghana into."
According to him, the Lands Ministry was putting a lot of focus on increasing local content in mining activities as part of the interconnections program.
He stated that maximizing human resources in mining and fostering Ghanaian ownership were crucial in this approach.
All of this, he said, was occurring to some extent, naming Cardinal Resources, which operates in the north, Asante Gold, Adamus, Rocksure, and Ghana Bauxite at Awaso as some of the mining businesses.
"The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa is also teaching mining specialists and localizing the program, which has already attracted many of our neighbors to study in Ghana," he explained.