By 2030, raw ores will no longer leave Ghana - Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana will phase out exports of unprocessed mineral ores by 2030 as part of efforts to promote local processing and retain more economic value from the country’s mineral resources.

Speaking at the Mining in Motion Conference on Monday, 19 October 2026, the President said the government would introduce a phased prohibition on raw mineral exports, covering resources such as bauxite, manganese, iron, and lithium, to support domestic industrialisation.

He said the plan would be backed by the necessary legal measures, mineral-specific requirements, and clear implementation timelines.

The President’s remarks place a clear timeline on Ghana’s push to move up the mineral value chain, with 2030 set as the date by which raw ores are expected to stop leaving the country.

“I’ve set a clear goal that by 2030, raw mineral ores should no longer leave our shores. Our bauxite, manganese, iron, lithium, and other minerals must support processing and industrial development here at home,” he said.

Beyond extraction and export

President Mahama stressed that Ghana must move beyond extracting and exporting minerals in their raw form to processing them locally and using them to drive industrial development.

He said the country needed to derive greater economic benefits from its mineral resources by building local capacity for processing and other value-added activities, rather than allowing the benefits of that value addition to be realised elsewhere.

“We will pursue a phased prohibition on exports of unprocessed ores, supported by the necessary legal measures, mineral-specific requirements, and transparent implementation timetables,” he said.

Processing obligations for investors

The President added that investors seeking access to Ghana’s mineral resources would be required to meet clearly defined processing obligations as part of the government’s push to increase domestic value addition.

According to him, the government has already taken a step in that direction by restricting the export of certain materials.

“We have already imposed a ban on the export of iron scrap and non-ferrous metals. Investors must understand the processing obligations associated with access to our resources,” he said.

Gold value chain

President Mahama said the initiative is also being pursued through the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and the country’s gold refining policy. The approach, he explained, is aimed at expanding domestic participation in the gold value chain instead of relying largely on the extraction and export of raw minerals.

“Through the Ghana Gold Board and our gold refining policy, we are working to retain more value through assaying, refining, and related services,” he said.

The policy is expected to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to test and refine gold locally, creating opportunities for businesses and professionals in the mining and mineral processing sectors.

Local value addition

The announcement signals a firm policy direction for the country’s extractive sector, with the government placing emphasis on domestic processing, industrial development, and the retention of value from Ghana’s mineral wealth.

By setting 2030 as the target date and promising legal measures, mineral-specific requirements, and transparent timetables, the President indicated that the transition would be structured and phased rather than immediate.

Together, the gold refining policy and the planned restrictions on raw ore exports reflect the government’s stated aim of keeping more of the economic value of Ghana’s minerals within the country and its local industries.