Nyinahin chief’s call for domestic ownership priority in Ghana’s bauxite mining project

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Chief of Nyinahin, Nana Dr Amanpene Boateng Twum II, has urged policymakers to ensure greater inclusion of domestic firms as the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) advances plans for mining the country’s largest bauxite reserves at Nyinahin to become an integrated aluminium industry. Estimated at around one billion tonnes, the Nyinahin bauxite deposit is considered central to Ghana’s long-term industrialisation plans.

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The Chief, as a former member of GIADEC, emphasised the need for a balanced approach that prioritises indigenous Ghanaian firms, provided they meet established technical and financial eligibility criteria.

The significance of his remarks lies in some stakeholders alleging that foreign firms are being favoured for the three principal mining blocks, overlooking capable local bidders and strengthening the domestic value chain.

"If a Ghanaian company has the capacity, it deserves the opportunity," Nana Dr Twum II stated, emphasising that while competence must remain paramount, local participation is vital for the sustained economic growth of the nation.

Justifying his argument, he noted that foreign-led operations can often result in capital outflows, whereas locally owned firms are more likely to reinvest earnings domestically, supporting economic development and employment generation.

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Strategic importance of local ownership and Nyinahin reserves

Moreover, the Chief referred to the performance of the Ghana Bauxite Company. Having faced operational and financial challenges under previous foreign management, the mine has displayed improved efficiency and profitability since the Ofori-Poku Company Limited’s acquisition of 80 per cent of its stake, with the government holding the remaining share.

According to him, this shift has also increased employment for local communities and given a boost to engagement with surrounding areas.

The discussion has renewed focus on the balance between Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). John Dramani Mahama, the Former President of Ghana, has consistently advocated for prioritising domestic ownership. He, too, argued that economic progress should be assessed by the extent to which wealth is retained within the country.

As GIADEC accelerates to awarding contracts, traditional leaders and local stakeholders continue to raise doubts, calling for transparency and adherence to the “Ghanaian-first” policy.

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