The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has given his backing to President John Dramani Mahama’s “reset agenda,” describing the administration’s strategy to process natural resources locally as an essential driver for national economic transformation.

The endorsement highlights the ongoing push to transition Ghana from a traditional exporter of raw minerals into a nation centered on domestic refining and industrial value addition.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the Asantehene at the Mining in Motion conference on Monday, October 19, the Essumejahene, Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama, stressed that prioritizing domestic processing over raw exports directly addresses a long-standing national goal.

He noted that the government’s approach to mineral governance offers a realistic pathway to break the cycle of poverty by retaining a significant share of resource wealth within the country.

According to the Asantehene, the vision behind the policy remains valid and vital, notwithstanding recent political debate surrounding the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).

By placing local capacity building and increased control over mineral wealth at the core of economic policy, the initiative seeks to lay the groundwork for long-term industrialization.

Connecting the policy to the country’s historical ambitions, the Essumejahene drew parallels between current efforts and early post-independence economic strategies aimed at sovereign resource management.

“Over the past year, the controls of the new agenda have become whatever we make of the minerals in the ground and the government’s mineral policies.

"Regardless of the controversies surrounding the Gold Board, there should be no doubt that the nature of the President’s reset agenda takes us right back to the very foundation of our republic, when Dr Kwame Nkrumah sought to harness our minerals and move to establish a gold refinery in Tarkwa,” he said.

Nana Okyere Kusi Ntrama concluded by emphasizing that the existing direction of Ghana’s mineral policy presents a pivotal moment to build upon that early vision, strengthen local refining infrastructure, and secure far greater economic returns for the nation.