In the wake of the government's decision to reject the lease extension for the Damang Gold Mine, the Minerals Commission has described the move not as a setback, but as a turning point for Ghana's natural resource management.
According to Isaac Tandoh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, this decision offers Ghana a rare opportunity to redefine the trajectory of its extractive industry and assert greater national control over its mineral wealth. "For far too long, our nation has watched as immense wealth is drawn from our soil, yet local communities remain underdeveloped and the benefits to the state fall short of what is just and sustainable," Isaac Tandoh said in a piece sighted by Business.
He added that, "This moment gives us the chance to reset those dynamics." His comments also echo recent calls by former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo for a sweeping review of Ghana's mining laws and agreements.
Justice Akuffo described many of the existing arrangements as "neo-colonial," highlighting the growing sentiment across the continent that Africa must reassert ownership of its natural resources.
