Ghana puts bauxite, lithium and iron ore in the spotlight to woo Australian capital

Ghana has stepped up efforts to attract Australian investment into its growing critical minerals sector, pitching the country as a stable and reform-driven destination for mining and value-added mineral development at the 2026 Africa Down Under (ADU) Summit in Perth.

The Ghanaian delegation was led by High Commissioner to Australia Doris Brese and Maxwell Yao Akpene Klu, Deputy Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission in charge of Small Scale & Industrial Minerals. Addressing mining executives, financiers and policymakers, Klu said Ghana is looking to move beyond its traditional gold dominance and position itself as a strategic partner in battery minerals and green technologies.

“Our country is not just about extracting resources, we are committed to a paradigm shift in mining, one that moves beyond the dig-and-ship model to a value-added approach for the creation of jobs and wealth locally,” Klu said.

While reaffirming Ghana’s position as a leading gold producer and an increasingly attractive mining investment destination, he highlighted opportunities in lithium, bauxite, iron ore and base metals, among other industrial minerals.

Klu also pointed to the potential of Ghana’s iron ore resources, stressing that their development must be accompanied by effective environmental management. He said the government is seeking to protect investor interests while promoting local content.

Ghana pushes value addition

Value addition was a central theme of Ghana’s pitch to Australian investors. Klu said processing minerals locally could increase income margins, reduce waste and create employment.

“Value addition transforms raw goods into higher-value products to boost income margins, reduce waste, and create jobs,” he said.

He added: “Again let me say the era of dig-and-ship materials at their raw state are over, hence the need to deliver value-added minerals, while working towards industrialisation.”

According to Klu, Ghana’s efforts to transform its economy through gold production and greater value addition over the past 18 months form part of the government’s reset agenda.

On iron ore, he said Ghana has more than 1 billion tonnes of resources and is seeking private-sector partners through the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC). The country’s integrated iron and steel strategy aims to establish industries spanning mining, refining and smelting.

Klu also pointed to promising geological prospects for minerals that could support manufacturing and industrialisation.

Hundreds of projects under exploration

Ghana’s mineral exploration pipeline remains active, with hundreds of projects targeting gold, lithium, iron ore and other minerals, Klu said.

He also sought to reassure investors about the country’s legal and investment framework. Ghana’s mining sector is anchored by the 1992 Constitution and the Minerals and Mining Act 703 of 2006, which is currently being amended to create what the government describes as a more progressive mining environment.

Recent incentives, including certain waivers for mineral exploration, are also intended to support sector growth.

“The investor community is investing in Ghana with confidence and knowing that their investments are protected by a stable political environment and a government that upholds the principles of good governance, including the rule of law and the sanctity of contracts,” Klu said.

Focus on governance and skills

High Commissioner Doris Brese highlighted developments under President John Mahama’s administration over the past 18 months, pointing to prudent and transparent economic management and adherence to the rule of law as factors behind Ghana’s emergence as an investment destination.

The Ghanaian delegation also attended the graduation of two of 25 students supported through a Minerals Commission sponsorship programme at Curtin University in Perth. Another eight students are scheduled to graduate in February 2027.

The sponsorship programme is aimed at developing the human resources required for Ghana’s minerals sector.

The Perth pitch underlines Ghana’s ambition to attract investment not only into mineral extraction but also into processing, refining, smelting and broader industrialisation, as the country seeks to capture more value from its mineral resources.