Mining governance expert Dr Steve Manteaw has urged the government to renew Gold Fields’ mining lease if the company has fulfilled all statutory and contractual obligations, warning that Ghana’s growing push for localisation in the mining sector must be driven by strategy rather than political emotion.
Speaking during an interview on Ghana’s mining future, Dr Manteaw argued that debates around resource nationalism should focus on strengthening Ghanaian participation without undermining investor confidence and production stability.
His comments come amid renewed public debate over whether Ghana is receiving adequate value from its mineral resources and whether the country should tighten local ownership requirements in the extractive sector.
Development Responsibility Goes Beyond Mining Firms
Dr Manteaw rejected claims that mining companies alone should be blamed for underdevelopment in mining communities, insisting that firms already meet substantial financial obligations to the state.
“It is up to the government to apply revenues in ways that address equity in development across the country, focusing much more attention on mining communities.” - Dr Steve Manteaw
According to him, Ghana’s fiscal framework already allocates portions of mineral royalties to district assemblies and traditional authorities in mining areas. However, he questioned whether those resources are being used effectively to support transformative local development.
The mining governance expert criticised what he described as poor spending patterns by some local assemblies, claiming that royalty revenues are sometimes diverted into recurrent expenditures rather than long-term economic projects.
He cited examples where mineral royalties had allegedly been used for funeral donations, garbage collection, electoral registration logistics, repainting assembly buildings and allowances.
“If you continue spending your share of the mineral royalties this way, how dare you turn around to blame the company for lack of development?” he asked.
Dr Manteaw also highlighted Gold Fields’ corporate social responsibility interventions, including community development projects and infrastructure support in mining areas such as Tarkwa and Damang.
Localisation Must Be Strategic
While supporting greater Ghanaian participation in mining, Dr Manteaw stressed that localisation should be built on financing, technical expertise and industrial capacity.
“I think the discussion should be about a national strategy for putting Ghanaians in the driver’s seat in the mining industry,” he said.
He noted that although Ghana has policies reserving some mining inputs for local suppliers, many Ghanaian firms continue to import products instead of developing domestic manufacturing capacity.
According to him, localisation policies risk becoming symbolic if they fail to deepen industrial production and value addition within the country.
“The real issue,” he said, “is whether Ghana can design a mining ownership model that combines investor confidence, local capital formation and stronger community development outcomes.”
Dr Manteaw further advocated joint ventures between foreign mining firms and Ghanaian companies, arguing that gradual capacity building offers a more sustainable path than abrupt localisation measures.
READ ALSAO: Ghana's Mining Lease Renewals Must Balance National Interest and Investor Confidence - Ben Boakye
