he Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, has said Ghana is the premier and foremost destination for mining investment globally.
Speaking at the country spotlight session of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention on Tuesday, Mr Jinapor highlighted Ghana’s burgeoning and stable democracy, improving business environment and dramatic policy shift towards mineral value-addition and green minerals as key factors positioning the country as the ultimate investment destination.
According to him, the government has strategically positioned Ghana as the perfect place for investment through initiatives aimed at unleashing prosperity for the people in an environment that is equitable to all stakeholders, particularly investors.
Touching on the government’s proactive approach, the Minister explained that Ghana was diversifying its mineral resources by ensuring the responsible and sustainable exploitation of hitherto untapped resources, such as lithium.
He noted that the government views green minerals as the cornerstone of Ghana’s metal industry and was actively pursuing collaborations with the private sector to ensure their effective harnessing.
“Particularly, the Government of Ghana has identified the development of green minerals as a strategic metal development. The government is, therefore, seeking strategic partnerships with the private sector for the exploitation of these minerals,” Mr Jinapor stated.
He further disclosed that Ghana’s Cabinet approved a policy last year for the exploitation and management of green minerals, complete with investment incentives and assurances of optimal returns on investment.
“Based on this Policy, we have granted a Mining Lease to Atlantic Lithium, a company listed on the Australian and London Stock Exchanges, to commence construction, subject to parliamentary ratification, for the mining of lithium, after the company completed exploratory works and feasibility studies.
“Available data shows large deposits of lithium from the northern part of the country to the south, and investors are welcome to partner with the Government for the exploitation of these minerals,” he added.
Recognising the importance of human resource capacity, the Minister emphasised that Ghana has built credible training institutions that have produced skilled manpower for the sector, with significant spillover effects on virtually all mining economies globally.