Ghana owes much of its current development to the mining sector, and without it, the country would not be where it is today.
That is according to Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, Acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, who is calling for a serious national conversation about the use and misuse of mineral revenues.
“But for mining, Ghana wouldn’t be here today,” Nantogmah declared, stressing that while mining communities often feel left behind, the sector’s revenues fuel national development, most of which occurs far from where the resources are extracted.
He noted that mining companies are frequently blamed for underdevelopment in host communities, even though they contribute significantly through taxes, royalties, and direct investments.
“Mining companies build schools and hospitals in these areas. Yet, they are held solely responsible when development lags,” he said.
Nantogmah argued that the real issue lies with how royalties are managed by state institutions and local assemblies.
“When royalties are paid, a portion is meant to go back to host communities and district assemblies for development. But the key question is: are those funds being used effectively?” he questioned.
He cited examples of local authorities receiving royalties but still turning to companies like Gold Fields Ghana to construct roads and infrastructure.
Gold Fields, he noted, has built over 33 kilometres of road infrastructure in one community, a role typically reserved for government.
To address this disconnect, the Chamber of Mines is advocating for the introduction of a Mineral Revenue Management Act—a framework similar to what governs Ghana’s petroleum revenues.
He pointed to long-standing mining towns like Obuasi, which, despite decades of resource extraction, still struggle with basic infrastructure. “Obuasi should have seen real transformation. If the royalties returned, what were they used for?”
A recent study by the Chamber revealed that as much as 80% of the benefits from mining revenues are concentrated in Accra, reinforcing his argument that Ghana’s development is heavily reliant on the sector, but not necessarily benefiting those closest to the mines.
“Ghana is developing on the back of mining,” he said, “but we need to rethink how the wealth is shared.”
Nantogmah concluded with a call for reform: “Maybe the portion going back to communities is too small. Should we increase it? Should we earmark it for specific projects? That’s the discussion we must have urgently”.
