Ghana to Introduce Indigenous Framework for Natural Resource Management – President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to implement a homegrown framework aimed at managing Ghana’s natural resources more effectively and ensuring greater local participation.

Addressing attendees at the opening session of a four-day Executive Leadership Programme for Ministerial Appointees, President Mahama emphasized that Ghana has the capacity to manage its own natural wealth without overreliance on foreign entities.

“In the coming months, we will roll out a policy to enhance indigenous participation in the exploitation of our natural resources,” the President stated. “We are not seeking to expropriate existing leases, but during renewal processes, we will negotiate to ensure increased Ghanaian involvement. Our goal is to mobilize resources that can truly benefit our people.”

This initiative comes in the wake of a recent dispute surrounding Gold Fields’ operations at the Damang mine. The company, which had held the mining lease for nearly three decades, faced non-renewal of its license after the government—through the Minerals Commission—cited non-compliance with certain obligations under the agreement.

A resolution has since been reached. For the next year, the Damang mine will be jointly managed by Gold Fields and the government, pending parliamentary approval of the new arrangement.