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The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Andrews Tandoh, has firmly dismissed suggestions that Ghana is moving toward nationalising its mining industry. Instead, he says the country is pursuing a deliberate and strategic shift aimed at securing better deals for Ghanaians.
“There hasn’t been a policy for nationalisation. We are not Burkina Faso. We are not Mali. But we are pushing for indigenisation,” Mr. Tandoh clarified during an interview on Joy News.
His remarks come in response to growing public debate over the government’s recent decision not to renew the mining lease of Gold Fields Ghana for its Damang Mine. While some critics have interpreted this move as a step toward state control of the sector, Mr. Tandoh made it clear that the goal is not ownership, but fairness.
“We support foreign investment. But some of these agreements cannot be in perpetuity. It cannot be forever,” he said. “If you’ve been given a lease for 30 years and you’ve worked through the 30 years, it cannot be business as usual. Those neo-colonial types of agreements cannot continue.”
According to him, the government’s approach is not sudden or reactionary, but a thought-out policy direction aimed at ensuring that Ghana’s natural resources benefit its people more directly.
“This is about Ghana. This is about ensuring our infrastructure, our communities, and our people benefit from what is under their feet,” Mr. Tandoh said.
While welcoming foreign investors, he stressed that partnerships must be equitable and rooted in mutual respect. “We’re not saying don’t come. We’re saying, let’s do fair business. Let’s look again at what we signed 30 years ago. The times have changed.”
The Minerals Commission, he revealed, is now actively reviewing existing mining agreements to align them with modern standards and national priorities.
“We are evaluating everything. We are protecting Ghana’s future,” he affirmed. “Genuine investors are not afraid of fairness. They are afraid of instability. We are offering structure, fairness, and a clear plan for growth.”
In conclusion, Mr. Tandoh stressed that the current direction is intentional and guided by national interest, not emotion or politics.
“This is not abrupt. This is deliberate. It is strategic. And above all, it is for Ghanaians.”
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