With African countries now adopting a more sustainable and eco-friendly ways of
exploiting their mineral resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, the Minister for Lands
and Natural Resources has laid special emphasis on the need for mutually beneficial
partnership between African countries and their European counterparts.
Delivering the keynote address at the 2024 Mining On Top Africa Conference in Paris, France
on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, the Lands Minister expressed the urgent need for the jettisoning of
the historical inequalities that has existed between mineral producing African countries and the
developed countries, noting that a relationship that guarantees mutual benefit for both the West
and Africa will be a step in furtherance of attainment of the United Nations Sustainable
Development.
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor explained that mineral producing countries are transitioning from the
outmoded practice of ‘dug and ship’ with the new method anchored on value addition and local
participation.
He emphasized the overarching importance of a partnership anchored on equitable distribution of
benefits as that will help African countries to raise the resources to play a central role in the fight
against climate change.
“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides a framework to address
climate change, resource depletion, and socioeconomic inequalities which threaten the well-
being of our global community. Mutually beneficial mining partnerships between Europe and
Africa is crucial to meeting these 2030 Goals. For our modern day lives, depend, largely, on
mining and the appropriate use of variety of minerals", he said.
“We must, therefore, consider the benefits generated through value addition and the ability to
transform them into innovative products and associated service, to meet the needs of modern
living. We must ensure that the framework for the exploitation of these minerals, favourably,
generates benefits which are equitably distributed among all stakeholders, including countries
and communities that host these minerals.
“Through these partnerships, we can tackle environmental degradation, social conflicts, and
economic inequalities, while promoting efficiency and safety at the mine. Our Economic
Partnership Agreements must, therefore, be designed not only to foster trade and investment, but
promote value addition to the minerals we mine, create job opportunities for economic growth,
and tackle poverty,” he said.
With Ghana being one of the African countries which has set sail in the implementation of
environment-friendly policies in its mining sector, Hon. Jinapor took time to list some of the
initiatives and detail their transformational impacts.
“This, obviously, calls for the implementation of mining-friendly policies that protect the interest
of citizens and investors alike, while championing environmental sustainability. That is why
Ghana, under the distinguished leadership of President Akufo-Addo, has adopted a Green
Minerals Policy which aims at promoting value addition and beneficiation across the value chain
of our green minerals, while contributing, substantially, to the green energy transition.
“Our aim is to ensure the retention of the full value chain of these critical minerals in the
country, to the extent possible. Already, we have established through a Public Private
Partnership, a four hundred kilogramme (400kg) capacity gold refinery, to refine the gold we
produce.
“We are, also, promoting, through this Policy, local content and local participation across the
value chain of our green minerals, from exploration, through mining to downstream production,
to ensure that Ghanaians, who are by our national Constitution, the owners of these minerals,
benefit optimally from them,” the Minister said.
The Minister also emphasized importance of fairness and inclusivity in the rewarding of African
countries who have committed to facilitating the platform for the spurring of Green Mineral
Resources in their countries.
He implored the countries to live up to the tenets of the Paris Agreement which enjoins the
countries to commit resources to the fight against climate change.
“We must, therefore, use this opportunity to renew our commitment to tackling climate change,
through measures such as the green energy transition, which mining plays a central role in its
implementation.
“This transition, must, however, be fair, just, inclusive, and carry everyone along. It must not be
pursued in a manner that only benefits the consumers of clean energy – investors and their home
countries. But it must be done in a way that benefits the ultimate producers of the minerals
required for the transition, who have consistently suffered the historical injustice commonly
referred to as “resource curse.” The need for balance, and, indeed, equity is critical for
sustainability, and inclusive development,” he said.
Mining On Top Africa Conference is a prestigious event that brings together Ministers from
various African countries and prominent industry stakeholders for a two-day summit focused on
fostering partnerships between European and African nations for the sustainable exploration and
development of mineral resources.
Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, an expert from the Department of Critical Metals in France, in a speech
read on his behalf, emphasized that sustainability and value addition in mineral exploration are
pressing issues that require immediate attention.
He expressed hope that the partnership between African countries and Europe will enable Africa
to add significant value to its mineral resources and prioritize energy transition, while aligning
with the Paris Agreement.
This collaboration, he believes, will also be crucial in harnessing mineral resources to drive
sustainable development and mitigate climate change.
