Mining magnate Sam Jonah has urged the government to introduce preferential policies and long-term reforms that would make it easier for Ghanaians to own and lead resource-based industries, warning that Ghana's wealth will remain foreign-controlled without bold structural shifts.
Delivering the keynote at the $100 million E&P-EBID facility signing ceremony, Jonah argued that the disconnect between the mining sector and the broader economy stems from decades of foreign ownership. "For far too long, the mining industry in Ghana… has been largely disconnected from the broader economy.
Why?
Because the ownership has been foreign, the procurement has been offshore, and the capital goods have come from abroad." "He drew parallels with South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) strategy, citing Patrice Motsepe's rise as a model for Ghana to emulate. "From that policy emerged one of Africa's most iconic entrepreneurs-Patrice Motsepe… not because he was given charity, but because his country had the foresight to create a framework of opportunity." Jonah stressed the need for Ghana to actively support local entrepreneurs through access to capital, opportunity, and a conducive policy environment. "Our entrepreneurs are not lacking in talent.
