President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana intends to end the export of mineral ores in their raw form by 2030.

According to the president, the initiative aims to position local processing companies to lead the government’s flagship industrial and job creation agenda.

Speaking in Addis Ababa on February 13, 2026, President Mahama emphasised the importance of halting the export of unprocessed resources from the country. He advocated for building the capacity of local processors to increase production and strengthen the value chain.

“I say in 2030 there will be no mineral ore leaving Ghana. We are not going to ship manganese ore, bauxite, or iron ore out of Ghana raw. You must process all that locally. That is the only way we can provide opportunities for our people,” he said.

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He further noted that Ghana’s cocoa sector faces similar challenges, which are significantly affecting stakeholders.

The president highlighted his government’s decision to stop relying on foreign funding arrangements for cocoa purchases and instead shift to domestic financing through bonds.

This, he explained, will ensure that local processors receive sufficient cocoa beans to expand production, create jobs, and strengthen Ghana’s value chain.

“We have the capacity to process 400,000 tonnes of beans, but because those beans are collateralised, we cannot allocate them to local processors, so we have to ship them outside. Since we produce the beans, we can provide local processors with 400,000 tonnes to add value,” he added.

SP/MA

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