Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has intensified efforts to position Ghana as Africa’s leading mining investment destination during the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) in New York, USA.
Speaking at an exclusive Investors’ Forum held at the Penn Club of New York on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Minister engaged major global mining companies and prospective investors, promoting Ghana’s vast mineral potential and investor-friendly environment.
The high-level forum brought together key stakeholders in the global extractive industry, including Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States and former High Commissioner to the UK, Victor Smith, officials from the Minerals Commission, executives of leading mining firms, and international investors.
Addressing participants, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah conveyed greetings from President John Dramani Mahama and highlighted government’s “Reset Agenda,” aimed at making Ghana the most competitive mining jurisdiction on the African continent.
He described Ghana as a politically stable and investor-friendly country endowed with significant deposits of gold, bauxite, manganese, diamonds, iron ore, lithium, cobalt, and nickel. According to the Minister, Ghana remains Africa’s leading gold producer and the sixth largest globally, while strategically positioning itself to benefit from the global energy transition through investments in critical minerals.
The Lands Minister also underscored Ghana’s strategic advantage as host of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, noting that it offers investors access to a unified African market of more than 1.3 billion people.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah assured investors that Ghana’s mining industry is supported by strong legal and institutional frameworks, particularly the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which guarantees stability agreements, contract sanctity, tax incentives, and protection against retroactive policy changes.
He further outlined recent reforms introduced to improve the investment climate, including the removal of the 15 percent VAT on exploration activities, the abolition of the 1 percent COVID-19 levy, and reductions in the Growth and Sustainability Levy.
“Ghana remains one of the most competitive mining destinations in the world,” the Minister stated, adding that government is streamlining regulations, enhancing transparency, and reducing the cost of doing business.
According to him, Ghana’s mining sector has attracted more than US$20 billion in investments over the past two decades, with major firms such as Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Zijin Mining, and Perseus Mining operating in the country.
He also highlighted emerging companies including Newcore Gold, Azumah Resources, and Northern Ashanti Mines as evidence of Ghana’s growing attractiveness to global investors.
Beyond gold, the Minister said government is pursuing diversification through investments in lithium, iron ore, bauxite, and industrial minerals, while advancing plans to establish domestic gold and lithium refineries with LBMA certification to enhance local value addition.
On sustainability, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah reaffirmed government’s commitment to combating illegal mining through the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), which seeks to formalize community mining and create responsible investment opportunities.
He also reiterated Ghana’s commitment to international transparency and accountability frameworks, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, and the African Mining Vision.
“Ghana is open for business. The opportunities are enormous, the environment is stable, and the time to invest is now,” the Minister declared.
