Ghana's Mineral Processing Plan: Mahama Sets 2030 Deadline For Raw Ore Exports

Ghana is targeting a shift away from exporting unprocessed mineral ores by setting a 2030 deadline to end raw ore exports, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Oct. 19, 2026, at the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra. The government outlined a phased ban covering minerals including bauxite, manganese, iron, and lithium, to be supported by new legislation, mineral-specific rules, and implementation timelines. Mahama said the plan depends on building infrastructure, technical skills, and financing so domestic processing becomes commercially viable. The strategy aims to break a wider pattern in Africa where countries export raw materials and import finished products, limiting local manufacturing and job creation. Investors and government both face requirements as processing will be capital-intensive.