Some Ghanaian firms and agencies in the extractive sector are participating in the four-day African mining, conference underway in Cape Town South Africa.
The companies are Newmont Africa, Adamus Resources Limited, Rocksure International and Chirano Gold Mine.
The rest are the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), the Minerals Commission and big downstream petroleum dealer, Ghana Oil Limited (GOIL).
The move is an elaborate plan to woo strategic investments at the leading global conference and exhibition on mining.
These consist of a combination of mining companies, mining support services and government agencies, mainly under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The forum, which is on the theme: “Evolution of African mining: Investing in the energy transition and the economies”, is set to inspire new approaches, spark conversations and encourage partnerships that are expected to transform mining on the continent.
It will also explore key drivers of investment decisions within the African mining market and forge the future direction of the sector.
The 2022 Investing in African Mining Indaba, which ends tomorrow, is the largest mining dialogue platform in Africa and the largest mining investment conference and exhibition in the world.
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, the newly elected President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, as well as the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, will share their vision for the future on the mining Indaba community.
The annual event opened on Monday in Cape Town with a call on global leaders to push for more investment and innovation in the mining sector.
Major platform
As a significant platform for nearly three decades, African Mining Indaba will this year expand its industry-leading content to include a Green Metals Day, a Host Buyer Programme and an Infrastructure and Supply Chain content stream.
The investment battlefield, according to the organisers, has also been reimagined as an innovation and research ground to encourage collaboration between the mining industry and academia.
Due to the global pandemic and its impact on world travels unseen at this massive scale in the modern era, Cape Town was unable to host the annual event in the last two years.
However, this year, the city has come alive as it hosts its flagship global conference this month instead of in the usual February. The 2023 edition will, however, be held in February.
Hundreds of mining experts, including junior, mid-tier and major mining companies and investors involved in the sector are all in the city for the high-impact networking and creation of opportunities and investment.
Mining Indaba continues to support education, career development, sustainable development and other important causes in Africa.
World Leaders
President Masisi of Botswana will share insight about the diversification of the mining industry.
As the biggest revenue earner, accounting for about 85 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, one-third of government revenue and one-fifth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
While Botswana continues to be one of the world’s largest diamond producers by volume, President Masisi has actively been advocating the expansion and development of the country’s diamond, coal, copper, silver and gold resources.
He is also encouraging more investment in a knowledge-based economy and the adoption of innovation in mining.
Zambian President
President Hichilema of Zambia would share insight into how his country is working to re-assert itself as a premier mining investment destination and his vision of a new dawn for Zambia where macroeconomic stability will be restored and sustained for inclusive economic growth.
Believing that the mining sector could be an important catalyst for national development, his government would look to significantly increase the production of copper and other minerals.
By Yaw Obeng Manu, South Africa