Explore, find and control - Dr. Bawumia's paradigm shift policy for Ghana's natural resource management

Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has outlined comprehensive measures he believes will address general concerns regarding the management of Ghana's natural mineral resources.

For years, Ghana's natural mineral resources, from gold to oil, have been largely explored and owned by foreign interests, leaving Ghana, the rightful owner of the minerals, with a paltry percentage, resulting in insufficient revenue.

From one regime to another, the status quo has remained. However, Vice President Bawumia believes things must change, and he has made comprehensive proposals he believes will alter the game for the country and the next generation.

Dr. Bawumia, who first made the call during his major policy address in February, believes Ghana must fully own its natural mineral resources by investing in exploration itself so that the country can fully claim its mineral finds.

Speaking at the Ghana Mining Vision in Sunyani, organized by the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Bawumia outlined what he will do as President to combat illegal mining and reiterated his call for full Ghanaian ownership of natural mineral resources.

"The overarching objectives (of his policies) are to usher Ghana into a golden age for the maximization of benefits from our natural resources like gold, lithium, bauxite, and so on, through value addition and Ghanaian ownership," Dr. Bawumia stated.

"We want to invest by providing funding to the Geological Survey Department and the universities to explore. Once they explore and we find, I believe that the concession should be fully owned by Ghanaians. That will be the objective of my government, by the grace of God."

On promoting responsible mining, Dr. Bawumia restated a number of policies he announced during his major policy address in Accra in February, including setting up a minerals development bank to assist small-scale miners in becoming medium-scale miners.

"We would also convert many abandoned mining shafts into community mining schemes and involve our traditional rulers."

"We are also going to train and constantly orientate small-scale miners, as well as introduce a curriculum in all schools to study some basics about mining, and reclamation."

"Through these bold policies, we aim to raise our total mining contribution to GDP and significantly increase or enhance income to the government from all mining and related activities. Meanwhile, we will continue to develop policies and stimulate investment activities in our potential in strategic and critical minerals."

Beyond exploring, finding, and owning the minerals, Dr. Bawumia is also targeting value addition to Ghana's minerals right here in Ghana.

"Our goal for building a robust small-scale mining sector is to become a leading player in Africa across several value chains, both in primary and refined products, while exporting high value-added downstream products."

"We have to achieve this by developing policies that ensure overall investment attractiveness in the sector while driving a policy to ensure indigenous ownership and participation in large-scale mining."