Ing. Henry Antwi, a mining expert from Ghana, is advocating for the alignment of mining policies in the country with those of successful mining nations. According to Antwi, this approach is crucial to attracting mining investors into Ghana.
Antwi, who is a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, emphasized the need for Ghana to have competitive policies in the global market while benchmarking with minerals-endowed countries. He cited examples of countries like Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso that have adopted and enhanced the mining policies of Ghana to attract investors.
These comments were made during a public lecture organized by the KNUST College of Engineering on the topic: “Harnessing the transformative power of Ghana’s mineral wealth for human capital development and sustainable economic growth.”
Despite Africa having the largest global gold reserve, Antwi pointed out that it has not translated into significant economic growth. He attributed this to administrative bureaucracies and political influence as major obstacles to obtaining mining licenses in the country.
To encourage mining investors in Ghana, Antwi suggested that the country consider granting tax exemptions to mining investors. He cited examples from countries like Canada and Australia, which have introduced mechanisms such as tax credits to encourage exploration.
Additionally, Antwi called on academia and the Ghana Geological Survey to compile an Atlas of Mineral Potential Sites similar to what the Australian Geosites have done. This, he believes, will attract more investors and help unlock the potential of critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt.
In response to the lecture, Vice-chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, expressed optimism that the lecture has contributed to Ghana’s inclusive growth and sustainability.
The recommendations made by Ing. Henry Antwi point to a critical need for Ghana to re-evaluate its mining policies and create a more conducive environment for mining investors. If these suggestions are taken into consideration, it could potentially lead to significant economic growth and development in the country’s mining sector.
