The Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah, has commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for his leadership in advancing Ghana’s mineral resource agenda.

Dr Debrah made the commendation while delivering the central message at the State and Sponsors’ Gala Dinner of the African Minerals Policy Forum – Mining in Motion 2026, held in Accra under the theme, One Continent. One Voice on Minerals. Aligning Africa’s Mineral Future.

He said Africa’s mineral wealth must be transformed into lasting prosperity for its people, rather than being limited to the extraction and export of raw materials.

According to him, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s vision is to make its mineral resources a catalyst for industrialisation, economic transformation and meaningful opportunities for young people.

He stressed that achieving this vision would require responsible mining practices that protect water bodies, restore degraded lands and ensure mining communities receive a fair and tangible share of the benefits of resource extraction.

“Africa’s ambition must go beyond exporting raw materials. We must invest in local processing, strengthen indigenous businesses, create skilled jobs and build industries that will drive sustainable economic growth and secure a more prosperous future for generations to come,” he said.

Dr Debrah also underscored the need for a unified African approach to mineral resource development, noting that greater cooperation among countries would strengthen the continent’s position in the global minerals market.

He said aligning policies, connecting infrastructure and developing regional value chains would enable African countries to increase their collective bargaining power, retain more value from their mineral resources and create greater economic opportunities for their citizens.

He further commended Oheneba Nana Kwaku Duah and the Ashanti Green Initiative team for organising the forum, describing it as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration on the future of Africa’s mineral sector.

Dr Debrah also expressed appreciation to BOST Energies and its Managing Director, Afetsi Awoonor, for supporting the initiative.

Emphasising the need to ensure that natural resource wealth translates into tangible benefits for citizens, he said the impact of mining should be reflected in improved livelihoods, stronger local businesses and healthier communities.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that the wealth beneath our feet translates into opportunities above ground through decent jobs, thriving local enterprises, stronger communities and a healthier environment,” he added.

He concluded by calling for a future in which Africa’s mineral resources are not merely extracted and exported but processed and transformed into sustainable economic opportunities and shared prosperity.

He said this would require collective commitment from African governments, industry players and other stakeholders to ensure that the continent’s mineral wealth delivers lasting benefits for present and future generations.