General News
Mahama Unveils Five-Pillar Plan to Boost Mining Local Content
President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a comprehensive five-pillar strategy aimed at transforming Ghana’s mining sector and deepening local participation across the value chain.
Speaking at the maiden Mining Local Content Summit in Takoradi, President Mahama said the time had come for Ghana to move beyond being a major producer of minerals to becoming a full beneficiary of the value derived from them.
“We have been prolific producers, but we have yet to become full participants in the extracted value chain,” he said. “This summit is about closing that gap.”
Ghana remains Africa’s leading gold producer and ranks among the top six globally. In 2023, the extractive sector generated nearly $6.6 billion in export revenues. However, according to the President, much of the high-value activity—advanced engineering, equipment manufacturing, processing and refining—continues to take place outside the country.
The Five Strategic Pillars
President Mahama outlined five key pillars that will guide government policy going forward.
Transformational Partnerships
The first pillar focuses on moving from transactional procurement to transformational partnerships.
“Local content must evolve from transactional procurement to transformational partnerships,” he stated. “Equity participation, technology transfer and knowledge sharing must become standard practice—not the exception.”
He disclosed that government is reviewing and refining mining legislation and regulatory frameworks to ensure Ghanaian enterprises move up the value chain—from suppliers of consumables to manufacturers and innovators.
Value Addition and Industrialization
The second pillar targets value addition and reducing dependence on raw exports.
“It is no longer acceptable for Ghana to continue exporting raw gold and importing finished products,” President Mahama declared. “Our mineral wealth must power Ghana’s industrialization—not merely sustain export dependence.”
He announced plans to support the establishment of refineries and bullion infrastructure, promote mineral-based industrial clusters, and facilitate downstream processing of bauxite, manganese and lithium, particularly within the context of the global green energy transition.
Skills Development
The third pillar centers on building a competitive workforce.
“No mining sector can be competitive without a skilled workforce,” the President said, pledging to strengthen institutions such as the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and technical universities.
He emphasized the need to prioritize skills in automation, robotics, drone technology, data analytics, environmental sustainability and renewable energy integration. “We must train not only miners, but mining technologists, engineers and innovators,” he added.
Technology and Innovation
Under the fourth pillar, President Mahama highlighted the need to embrace digital transformation.
“The future of mining is digital, sustainable and technology-driven,” he noted. “Ghana must become a hub for AI-assisted exploration, IoT-enabled asset management, and blockchain-based supply chain transparency.”
He revealed that government will explore establishing a National Mining Innovation and Research Hub to institutionalize knowledge sharing and technology adaptation.
“This summit must mark the beginning of a structured ecosystem—not a one-off event,” he said.
Indigenous Participation and Responsible Mining
The fifth pillar focuses on strengthening indigenous Ghanaian ownership and ensuring responsible mining practices.
Government, he said, will support the scaling up of Ghanaian private sector players from subcontracting to full ownership of world-class mining operations.
He cited the Blackwater Gold Project being developed by Engineers & Planners Limited as a milestone. “This is the first mining project of such scale being undertaken by a wholly Ghanaian-owned company,” he noted.
President Mahama stressed that local content must go hand in hand with environmental stewardship.
“Mining must leave our communities better than it found them,” he said, reaffirming government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, reclaiming degraded lands and cleaning polluted water bodies.
A Shared Responsibility
The President emphasized that the transformation of the mining sector requires collaboration among government, industry and communities.
“Government cannot achieve this transformation alone,” he said. “To Ghanaian entrepreneurs, the bar for quality and innovation is high, but the opportunity is unprecedented. Prepare yourselves. Build partnerships. Compete boldly.”
He assured international investors of Ghana’s stability while demanding genuine collaboration.
“Ghana offers you stability, policy clarity and long-term partnership, but we expect genuine collaboration that embeds capacity within our economy,” he stated.
Concluding his address, President Mahama challenged stakeholders to reflect on the long-term legacy of Ghana’s mineral wealth.
“If we get this right, our greatest export will not be raw gold or lithium,” he said. “Our greatest export will be Ghanaian talent, Ghanaian technology, Ghanaian enterprise, and a resilient and competitive mining economy.”
General News
Government Receives First Batch of 100 Buses to Ease Public Transport Strain
The government has taken delivery of 100 new buses as part of efforts to address growing pressure on Ghana’s public transport system following recent commuter disruptions across the country.
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced the development in a Facebook post on Sunday, April 5, 2026. He indicated that the buses form part of a broader nationwide initiative to expand transport capacity and improve mobility.
According to the Minister, the newly arrived 29-seater buses are the first tranche of a 300-vehicle procurement programme. “In the meantime, 100 29-seater buses have arrived in the country to ease recent road transport challenges. They form part of 300 procured for the purpose. Another batch of 100 will arrive in August, with the final batch expected in November,” he stated.
The intervention follows recent shortages of commercial vehicles in several parts of the country, which left commuters stranded at bus stops and transport terminals, particularly during peak hours.
Government officials have acknowledged the disruptions and assured the public of ongoing measures to stabilise the sector. Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has previously indicated that steps are being taken to improve transport services and ease the burden on daily commuters.
The phased delivery of the buses is expected to gradually improve conditions, especially in urban centres where overcrowding, long waiting times and limited vehicle availability have become persistent challenges.
Authorities say the initiative will provide much-needed relief for workers, students and other commuters who rely heavily on public transport, as efforts continue to restore efficiency and stability within the sector.
General News
GHS 1.5 Million Health Boost: Joana Gyan Cudjoe Delivers Lifeline Equipment to Amenfi Central
A major upgrade in healthcare delivery is underway in Amenfi Central after Member of Parliament Joana Gyan Cudjoe donated medical equipment worth GHS 1.5 million to the district’s health directorate.
The donation, presented at Agona Amenfi, was received by District Health Director Abdul Ganiyu Nuhu and his team, marking a significant intervention aimed at strengthening medical services across the constituency.
The consignment includes a wide array of essential equipment such as baby incubators, an anesthetic machine, heart monitors, oxygen concentrators, centrifuge, sterilizers, wheelchairs, delivery beds, and diagnostic tools. Health officials say the supplies will help address critical gaps in service delivery and improve patient care.
According to authorities, the equipment will be distributed across all 39 health facilities in the district to ensure equitable access and maximum impact.
The initiative forms part of the MP’s broader healthcare agenda, which includes plans to upgrade an existing health centre into a full-fledged hospital. Several Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds are also set to be elevated to health centre status, with the Juabo facility among the first expected to benefit.
The items were presented on behalf of the MP by a delegation led by District Chief Executive Peter Amponsah, alongside constituency executives and local government representatives.
Receiving the donation, Mr. Nuhu described the intervention as “timely and transformative,” noting that it would significantly enhance the capacity of health workers to deliver quality care. He assured stakeholders that the equipment would be properly maintained and used responsibly for long-term benefit.
The donation is widely seen as a critical step toward improving healthcare infrastructure in Amenfi Central, reinforcing public confidence and advancing efforts to build a more resilient local health system.
General News
Ghana, Zimbabwe sign 10 MoUs to strengthen bilateral ties
Ghana and Zimbabwe have signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, following the inaugural session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC).
The agreements, signed during high-level bilateral engagements, span critical areas including political consultations, health, energy, tourism, sports development, and institutional collaboration.
Key among the agreements is the adoption of the agreed minutes of the inaugural PJCC session, which sets the framework for structured and sustained engagement between the two countries.
The two nations also signed an MoU on Political and Diplomatic Consultations to enhance regular dialogue and cooperation on regional and international issues. In addition, both sides committed to strengthening capacity building through an MoU on Research, Training and Documentation between their respective Foreign Service Institutes.
Cooperation in social sectors featured prominently, with agreements covering Health, Sports and Recreation Development, and Tourism, reflecting a shared commitment to improving people-to-people engagement and national development outcomes.
Further MoUs were signed in the fields of Energy and Archives, highlighting efforts to promote sustainable development and preserve historical records and heritage.
Trade and economic collaboration also received a boost with an agreement between ZimTrade and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), aimed at enhancing trade promotion and facilitating business partnerships between the two countries.
In the cultural and historical space, an MoU was signed between the Institute of African Knowledge and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board to collaborate on an African liberation project.
While 10 agreements were signed at the government level, an additional MoU was concluded between private sector entities—Zoomlion Ghana Limited and Geo Pomona Waste Management (Pvt) Ltd—focusing on waste management collaboration.
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