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May 26, 2026
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Ghana cannot exploit mineral wealth alone without foreign investment — Ken Ashigbey
Money
Policy
Opportunity
Growth
Key Points
- Ghana's Chamber of Mines CEO, Ken Ashigbey, asserts that Ghana cannot solely rely on local capacity to fully exploit its vast mineral resources.
- He stresses the essential role of foreign investment and expertise to unlock the sector's full potential, citing immense untapped gold reserves.
- Ashigbey argues that the scale of Ghana's mineral deposits is too large for domestic actors alone, making external partnerships unavoidable.
- These remarks were made during a high-level policy dialogue on rethinking Ghana's approach to mining amidst debates over nationalization.
- The article notes Ghana's long history in gold and oil, and its increasing focus on critical minerals like lithium for the global energy transition.
Why This Matters
This article is highly significant for Ghana as it addresses a fundamental policy tension between resource sovereignty and the practical necessity of foreign investment for economic development. The approach Ghana adopts will critically determine its ability to effectively unlock the immense value of its mineral wealth, attract necessary capital and technology, and position itself strategically within the global energy transition for sustained growth.
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GoldBod losses remain key on Minority agenda as Parliament reconvenes – Afenyo-Markin
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Why celebrate $2.62bn FDI while losing $1.7bn under the Domestic Gold Programme? IERPP asks
- The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) welcomes Ghana's US$2.62 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as a sign of investor confidence.
- However, IERPP tempers this optimism with concern over an estimated GH¢22 billion (US$1.7 billion) loss from the Domestic Gold Purchase Program (DGPP).
- The DGPP loss is significant, equating to about 65 cents for every US$1 of FDI attracted, highlighting a major resource management issue.
- IERPP emphasizes that while FDI is crucial, it cannot substitute for prudent management and protection of existing public resources.
- The Institute calls for greater transparency, a clear breakdown of DGPP losses, and intense scrutiny from accountability institutions, Parliament, and civil society.

