Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has issued a clarion call to West African nations to transition from raw mineral exports to value addition and sustainable industrialisation.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 West African Mining and Power Expo (WAMPEX) in Accra on Wednesday, 28 May, Minister Buah called for a united, strategic rethinking of the region’s role in the global mining and energy ecosystem.
“This is the moment for West Africa to move from the periphery to the centre of the global mining and energy conversation.
“We can no longer be content with exporting raw materials while importing poverty. Our resources must create jobs, build industries, and power a future that is greener, fairer, and truly African.”
Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
Held under the theme “Mining and Power Hub: Driving Sustainable Investment Opportunity in West Africa,” the 18th edition of WAMPEX brought together government leaders, global investors, energy executives, and civil society stakeholders from across the continent and beyond.
The event served as a platform to explore the transformative potential of the mining and power sectors in advancing regional development and global sustainability goals.
Ghana’s Lead in Mining Reform
Minister Buah highlighted Ghana’s own policy shift towards a more sustainable and inclusive mining sector. He cited investments in strategic infrastructure, expansion of domestic mineral processing facilities, and the integration of local content policies.
Ghana’s commitment to aligning mineral governance with its climate goals was also emphasised, particularly through institutions like the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), which channels resource revenues into long-term national equity and development.
“Sustainable mining is not a slogan. It must be our standard.
“It means respecting communities, restoring the environment, and reinvesting our wealth where it is most needed.”
Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
Minister Buah criticised the historic pattern where African countries extract valuable minerals only to export them as raw materials, forfeiting opportunities for domestic value addition and job creation.
“The value of gold, lithium, manganese, and bauxite must not be measured in tonnes exported, but in factories built, in clean energy generated, and in lives transformed.”
Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
He argued that mining must serve as a launchpad for green industrialisation, where resource extraction is tightly linked with renewable energy development, environmental stewardship, and inclusive economic growth.
This, he said, demands an end to business-as-usual approaches and the beginning of coordinated, transformative strategies across the West African region.
Call for Regional Collaboration
The Minister did not limit his message to Ghana. He called for a united regional front to drive structural transformation through harmonised mining regulations, cross-border industrial value chains, and investments in green infrastructure.
“Our future prosperity depends on our ability to act in unity and with purpose.
“We must collaborate to build industries that not only process our minerals but empower our people.”
Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
In an appeal to foreign investors and development partners, Hon. Buah made it clear that West Africa is no longer just a supplier of raw materials but a region ready to lead.
“To our international partners, let me be clear: the era of extract and export is over. West Africa is not just a mining destination it is a partner in progress.
“We invite you to invest in value addition, in renewable energy integration, in skills development, and in technology transfer.”
Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
The Minister’s address received a standing ovation, energising participants and framing the agenda for what is set to be a critical, solution-focused conference.
With global demand for strategic minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths soaring largely driven by clean energy and digital industries West Africa is poised to become a key player in the global supply chain.
Yet, as Minister Buah underscored, the true test lies not in resource abundance, but in how nations manage, process, and reinvest those resources to benefit their citizens.
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