Ghana, Tanzania deepen mining ties to keep more mineral wealth in Africa

Ghana and Tanzania are stepping up efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the minerals sector, with both countries calling for a shift from exporting raw materials to building industries that create jobs and deliver lasting benefits to their citizens.

The commitment emerged during a meeting between Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and Tanzania’s Minister of Minerals, Anthony Peter Mavunde, where the two sides exchanged experiences on mining policies, local participation and the development of mining communities.

Armah-Kofi Buah stressed that Africa could no longer afford to remain a supplier of raw materials while other countries reap the greater rewards through processing and manufacturing.

He said Ghana and Tanzania had much to gain by sharing lessons, aligning their efforts and building stronger partnerships to add value to their mineral resources.

The Ghanaian Minister pointed to plans to strengthen community development agreements as part of mining arrangements, with clear commitments to education, skills training and opportunities for local people.

He further discussed proposed reforms to involve district mining committees in the licensing process, allowing communities to have a voice before concessions are granted.

On his part, the Tanzanian Minister, Mavunde commended Ghana’s experience in supporting small-scale mining and said Tanzania was keen to learn from the country’s policies and institutional arrangements.

He noted that Ghana’s small-scale miners had made a significant contribution to gold production, offering lessons on how local participation could expand the benefits of mining.

The Minister also outlined efforts to strengthen geological exploration and ensure that mining agreements deliver fairer returns to the country.

He said Tanzania had begun setting aside 10 per cent of mining-related royalties for geological surveys, with the goal of expanding knowledge of its mineral potential and attracting further investment.

Both ministers underscored the importance of closer cooperation between African countries, noting that their shared geological resources offered opportunities for joint development rather than competition that benefits external markets.