President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has courted investors in the United States to invest in the mining industry in Ghana.
At an investor Roundtable held on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly currently underway in New York, the President said Ghana is not just the best place to do business in Africa but also one of the fastest growing economies on the continent, making an investment in the country viable and lucrative.
The Investor Roundtable was organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in partnership with AngloGold Ashanti and JP Morgan Chase & Co., an American multinational investment bank and financial services.
The high-level event, which was attended by global giants in the mining industry, as well as bond and equity investors, such as American International Group, PIMCO, Lord Abbett, HSBC Asset Investment and Schroder Investment, created a platform for Government to directly engage the investor community on investment potentials in the mining industry in Ghana.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Anglogold Ashanti, Mr. Alberto Calderon, touted Ghana as one of the best places for mining investment. He recounted the operations and experience of Anglogold Ashanti, and indicated that their decision to partner with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was because of their positive experience in the country.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, on his part, said the siting of the headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Accra makes Ghana the commercial capital of Africa, a testimony to Government’s commitment to creating a resilient, self-sufficient and robust economy for Ghana.
In his keynote address, President Akufo-Addo said the private sector has a fundamental role to play Ghana’s economic recovery programme, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He said the country is blessed with a lot of minerals, including green minerals required for the green energy transition, such as lithium. He recounted the mining industry’s contribution to Ghana’s economy and said Government was looking forward to work with the private sector to further develop the industry, not just for mining, but through beneficiation, by building the full value chain of the mineral resources in the country.
The President called on the investor community to take advantage of Ghana’s long history in democratic accountability, adherence to the principles of rule of law, respect for the sanctity of contracts, stable regulatory environmental and favourable fiscal regime and choose Ghana as their destination for mining investment.
Also at the Roundtable event were the Board Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, Mrs. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Ayisi, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Yoofi Grant, as well as others.