Minerals Commission CEO calls for partnership of sovereign equals at second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue

Eight of the top twenty gold producing countries globally are African nations and yet only about 2% of the continent’s natural resources are processed locally.

This is why as the leading producer of Gold on the continent, Ghana has set new priorities for our natural resources: we will only prioritize partnerships that enable us add value to our raw materials, locally.

This was the key message delivered at the Ministerial roundtable at the ongoing Second Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The message was delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, on behalf of the government of Ghana.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the UNESCO International Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education, and the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, brings together international delegates, academic leaders and industry experts to strengthen cooperation in natural resource management, technological innovation and engineering education.

Representatives from over 40 African countries, including more than a hundred heads of agencies and organisations, and more than 500 participants are gathered in Saint Petersburg from October 12-16, 2026, to explore areas of mutual cooperation in the sustainable development and management of raw materials.

Speaking at the Ministerial Session, Tandoh, mentioned that Ghana is a sovereign and democratic nation with a clear pathway and framework for the future of it's minerals.

He indicated that while Ghana is open to knowledge sharing and advanced technological transfer from Russia and other well-advanced nations, it should be genuine, structured and locally-embedded that leaves Ghanaian engineers and institutions with measurable new capabilities rather than serving as a one-way export of resources and expertise.

"All future co-operations must move beyond simple raw material extraction toward a partnership of sovereign equals," he noted.

He also noted that Ghana is broadening its focus beyond traditional minerals to critical resources such as lithium, iron ore and bauxite, supported by state-backed development frameworks including GIISDEC and GIADEC.

Tandoh pointed to Ghana’s modernised and robust regulatory environment, deployment of digital technology such as the Minerals Commission’s digital Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) and geofencing technology, indicating that Ghana is leading the charge to ensure that mineral rights acquisitions and operations adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines for the benefit of all stakeholders including the people of Ghana.

He concluded by calling for a formal, institutionalised Ghana-Russia Mining Cooperation Framework built on reciprocity rather than dependency.

He observed that Russia’s import needs for critical minerals match Ghana’s resource offerings, and urged that partnerships be transformational and mutually beneficial, with all technical training and industrial cooperation delivered directly through Ghanaian institutions.