Tianjin: Ghana has intensified its efforts to establish deeper mining collaborations with China, urging Chinese investors to move beyond the traditional export of raw minerals and engage in partnerships that focus on processing, technology transfer, skills development, and industrialization.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, made this call during his address at the Ministerial Forum on International Mining Cooperation and the 28th China Mining Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Tianjin, China. The event was themed ‘Win-Win Cooperation, Green and Intelligent.’
Mr. Buah informed attendees that Ghana is ready to build a new generation of mining partnerships that will deliver greater value to the country, investors, mining communities, and the global economy. He emphasized that Ghana’s vision extends beyond merely extracting minerals and exporting them as raw materials. The country desires its mineral wealth to drive industrialization, create jobs, and develop local expertise.
Mr. Buah highlighted that the future of mining should be measured by the industries, skills, technology, restored land, stronger communities, and a more prosperous nation that are left above ground. He noted that historically, resource-rich countries like Ghana have supplied raw materials while processing and value creation occurred elsewhere, a model Ghana is determined to change.
He underscored the importance of value addition for young Ghanaians seeking work, as it represents a job, a skill, a career, and a possibility of building a life at home. The Minister described Ghana’s concept of a win-win partnership as one in which the country receives fair value from its resources, while investors operate in a stable, predictable, and commercially viable environment.
Mr. Buah acknowledged the presence of major Chinese companies, such as Chifeng Gold Group, Shandong Gold, and Zijin Mining, in Ghana’s mining sector. He described their investments as evidence of what both countries could achieve through cooperation. However, he expressed the desire for future partnerships to extend beyond extraction into processing, technology, skills development, infrastructure, and local supply chains.
He noted that China’s experience in connecting natural resources to processing, manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology presents significant opportunities for Ghana. The Minister placed environmental sustainability at the center of Ghana’s mining agenda, particularly in combating illegal and irresponsible mining. He called for greater cooperation in environmental management, mine reclamation, tailings management, and land restoration, leveraging China’s technological expertise.
Mr. Buah also identified intelligent mining and modern geological information as key areas for Ghana-China cooperation. Ghana is modernizing its national geological database, improving geological survey and mapping capabilities, and strengthening digital traceability across the gold supply chain. He emphasized the importance of understanding national resources to manage them well, attract the right investment, and negotiate from a position of knowledge.
Improved geological data would reduce exploration risks for investors, strengthen government decision-making, and help Ghana better understand its mineral resources. Mr. Buah stated that China’s expertise in automation, geological science, mineral processing, data systems, engineering, and infrastructure makes it a natural partner for Ghana in developing intelligent mining. He stressed that technology cooperation must include efforts to develop Ghanaian human capital, with structured technical exchanges and mining-specific training for Ghanaian engineers, geologists, and regulators to strengthen local expertise and institutions.