Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, has urged indigenous Ghanaian companies to actively participate in the country’s mining sector.

He said although mining started in Ghana over 100 years, local involvement has remained limited, with many Ghanaians benefiting only through employment and small-scale opportunities.

“We've been mining in this country for over a century, more than 100 years, but all that was asked were jobs or employment, smaller contracts, some few corporate social responsibilities and that was it,” he stated.

Speaking at the signing of a contract agreement between Asanko Gold Mines and Rabotec Ghana Limited on Monday, March 30, 2026, he explained that there is now a shift in the industry that places Ghanaians in the leading role of the mining sector.

“And if I will borrow some few words from my president, he said that when it comes to money; we were at the back of the bus, then we came to the middle; now we want to drive the bus,” he said.

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He praised companies that are making efforts to create opportunities for local firms, describing such moves as necessary for the growth of the sector.

“It takes companies like Asanko Gold Mines to take the bold step to say I will give some people the opportunities to be able to do this,” he added.

He also commended Rabotec Ghana Limited by recalling his first encounter with the company’s work during his time at Tarkwa Gold Mines.

“I first heard of Rabotec when they build a TSF lining for us when I was the mine manager for Tarkwa Gold Mines, and I must say it's one of the best jobs I've ever seen,” he noted.

He expressed confidence in the company’s ability to compete beyond Ghana, citing growing interest from other countries in the region.

“I have no doubt that with opportunity given they will excel and it's not surprising that Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina have all expressed interest in this company to provide their services to them,” he said.

He assured that the government remains committed to supporting Ghanaian companies that are ready to grow and operate within the regulatory framework.

“This is the opportunity for us to groom and grow local people to the level that we want them to be, we’ll do everything regulatory possible to make sure you succeed,” he stated.

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