Ghana sets 2030 to stop exporting raw mineral ore
President Mahama says a phased ban, backed by law, will push bauxite, manganese, iron, lithium and diamonds through local processing first.
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Accra — Ghana intends to stop exporting unprocessed mineral ore by 2030, President John Dramani Mahama said, setting out a plan to keep more of the value of the country's minerals at home. He announced the target at the Mining in Motion conference in Accra on Monday and repeated it this week at the FT Africa Summit, the Ghana News Agency and Financial Afrik report.
How it would work
- A phased prohibition, backed by legislation, mineral-specific rules and timelines.
- Minerals named include bauxite, manganese, iron ore, lithium and diamonds.
- Investors will be expected to accept that access to Ghana's minerals comes with obligations to support local processing.
- A ban on exporting iron scrap and non-ferrous metals is already in force.
The 2030 ban itself is not yet law.
Aluminium and steel first
Mahama pointed to two value chains. In aluminium, the plan is to modernise the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) and build a full chain from bauxite mining to smelting and finished products. In iron and steel, Ghana wants to build on existing manufacturing to supply construction, transport and mining, and to sell across Africa.
He said success depends on infrastructure, skills, energy, access to capital and predictable rules, and that public spending on the plan must have clear responsibilities, measurable results and transparent reporting.
Sources: Ghana News Agency, 19 October 2026; Financial Afrik, 23 October 2026.
