This year’s Local Content Summit 2026 was organised by the Minerals Commission in Takoradi with the theme ‘Strengthening local content and indigenisation – building a resilient mining sector in Ghana’ and addressed by President John Dramani Mahama.
He outlined an ambitious roadmap aimed at deepening local content, accelerating industrialisation and positioning Ghana as a technology-driven mining hub.
“Although Ghana remains Africa’s leading gold producer and ranks among the top-six globally, much of the high-value activity in advanced engineering, processing, equipment manufacturing, technical services and refining still takes place outside the country.”
Drawing lessons from Botswana, Chile and Indonesia, President Mahama said smart, enforceable and forward-looking local content policies do not deter investment but rather create sustainable competitiveness.
President Mahama added that local content must evolve from transactional procurement to transformational partnerships. Consequently, government is reviewing mining legislation and regulatory frameworks to ensure Ghanaian enterprises move up the value chain – from suppliers of consumables to manufacturers of critical components and innovators.
Additionally, he declared it unacceptable for the country to continue exporting raw ores while importing finished products – setting a five-year target to eliminate raw ore exports.
The President also pledged support for refineries, bullion infrastructure, mineral-based innovation and industrial clusters, while promoting downstream processing of bauxite, manganese and lithium in line with the global green energy transition.
To achieve these, he focused on human capital development. Institutions such as the University of Mines and Technology and technical universities will be strengthened, alongside expanded apprenticeship programmes in partnership with the mining industry.
Skills in automation, robotics, drone technology, data analytics, environmental sustainability and renewable energy integration will be prioritised.
Increasingly, mining’s future is digital and technology-driven. Ghana must equally position itself as a hub for AI-assisted exploration, IoT-enabled asset management, blockchain-based supply chain transparency and locally driven research and development.
Government will explore establishing a national mining innovation and research hub to institutionalise this transformation.
Chief Executive-Minerals Commission Isaac Andrews Tandoh, for his part, cautioned Ghanaians against fronting for foreign businesses to the detriment of the country’s interests. The Commission is working on a new royalty regime and reviewing long-term leases which often outlive prevailing policies and regulatory systems.
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