Ghanaians have capacity to manage mineral resources - Minerals Commission deputy boss

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, has said that Ghana has built the capacity to manage mineral resources without being indefinitely dependent on foreign mining companies.

In a television interview with Joy News last Friday, Mr Tandoh dismissed suggestions that Ghanaian professionals and companies lack the technical and financial muscle to run large-scale mining operations.

His remarks was a reaction to the government's decision not to renew the mining lease for the Damang gold mine, operated by Gold Fields, after determining that the company failed to declare mineral reserves or submit a mining plan in line with legal requirements.

The government has assumed operational oversight of the site after the 15-year lease expired on April 18, 2025.

Mr Tandoh said the application for a 30-year lease extension, submitted by Gold Fields’ subsidiary, Abosso Goldfields, was evaluated but found to lack critical elements required for renewal.

According to the Minerals Commission, the company had stopped active mining at Damang as far back as 2023 and had been processing stockpiled ore instead.

“Look around the world, Burkina Faso, Mali, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghanaians are running mines,” Mr Tandoh said. “And even in Ghana, the biggest mine in the Gold Fields portfolio is being run by my sister, Catherine Kuupol, at Tarkwa.”

He argued that the country’s mining workforce has evolved significantly over the decades, with local expertise now available across a range of specialised areas.

According to him, past challenges such as limited access to capital and technical know-how are no longer barriers to Ghanaian participation at the highest levels of the extractive sector.

Mr Tandoh explained that while Ghana continues to welcome foreign investment, existing lease agreements must reflect current realities.

“We are not saying we’re going to chase all mining companies away,” he stated. “But once that lease runs out, you would have to table something different from what you currently have.”

He expressed concern over the lack of forward mining plans at Damang, noting that Gold Fields had not declared any mineral reserves in its 2023 and 2024 reports.

“You need to have reserves for us to give you a lease. You don’t have reserves. You don’t have a mining operating plan,” Mr Tandoh said.

“You are just treating the stockpile, and the stockpile is like some cash cow because you’ve already paid for the mining activity years ago.”

He added that continuing to renew long-term leases without demonstrable benefit to Ghanaians would be misguided.

“We’ve groomed people, we’ve groomed local companies. We have a lot of people who can access capital now from Ghana. So the question is: do we continue?”

Mr Tandoh insisted that the Minerals Commission is not against investment but expects proposals that serve Ghana’s long-term interest.

“We are open to listen to whatever they have. However, it should be something that benefits Ghana,” he said.

Mr Tandoh maintained that extractive agreements must align with the country’s present capabilities and future needs.