Ghana Seeks Deeper Chinese Investment in Mining and Mineral Processing at Nanning Conference

Ghana is seeking to expand its mining partnership with China, with a renewed push for investment in mineral processing, technology transfer, and exploration as part of efforts to retain more value from the country's natural resources, a government delegation said Thursday ahead of a major regional mining conference.

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Sulemana Yusif led the Ghanaian delegation in a meeting with Sui Guohua, Vice-Chairperson of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Nanning on Thursday, November 5, ahead of the China-ASEAN (Guangxi) Mining Cooperation Conference. The discussions centred on strengthening relations between the two sides and identifying investment opportunities in mineral exploration, industrial development, technology transfer, and local value addition .

Sui highlighted Guangxi's expertise in industry and mineral processing, expressing interest in expanding cooperation with Ghana in mineral development and related industrial ventures. The engagement was also marked by a welcoming banquet for the Ghanaian delegation.

Ghana's Mineral Endowment and Economic Stakes

Presenting Ghana's investment prospects, Yusif pointed to the country's deposits of gold, bauxite, iron ore, graphite, lithium, and manganese, describing the minerals as important resources for economic development. He disclosed that mining contributed approximately 9.98 percent to Ghana's GDP in 2025, while gold production reached a record 5.94 million ounces, a 23.41 percent increase from 4.82 million ounces in 2024 . This placed Ghana sixth among the world's leading gold producers and maintained its position as Africa's largest gold producer.

The figures reflect a historic shift in Ghana's gold sector: small-scale mining accounted for 52.4 percent of national output in 2025, overtaking large-scale producers for the first time in more than a century . Gold's contribution to GDP rose from 7.97 percent in 2024 to 9.98 percent in 2025, making it the country's largest economic sub-sector .

A Strategic Pivot Toward Value Addition

Yusif called for expanded cooperation in mineral processing, geological exploration, technical expertise, skills development, and responsible small-scale mining. He also highlighted the need for stronger environmental protection measures and increased Ghanaian participation across the mining value chain.

The Deputy Minister said Ghana's ambition was not limited to increasing mineral output but included developing local industries, creating jobs, and ensuring that a greater share of the economic benefits from its mineral resources remained within the country. This aligns with President John Dramani Mahama's stated goal of ending exports of unprocessed minerals by 2030, with a phased prohibition on raw bauxite, manganese, iron ore, and lithium exports .

Ghana's First Invitation to Guangxi's Mining Conference

Ghana's participation marks a significant diplomatic opening: the 2026 China-ASEAN (Guangxi) Mining Cooperation Conference, running from November 5 to 6, extended its first-ever invitation to a Ghanaian mining delegation, reflecting a deliberate "ASEAN plus Africa" dual-core focus . The conference, now in its 14th edition, has previously focused primarily on Southeast Asian partners.

Yusif is scheduled to address the opening ceremony, visit Ghana's exhibition stand, and participate in Ghana's National Mining Promotion Session themed "Resource Synergy: Industrial Chain Co-construction," where he will highlight Ghana's vision for a more integrated, value-driven, and sustainable mining industry . Ghanaian mining managers will also join the conference's international mining talent training programme for the first time .

The Broader Context

The engagement builds on a series of Ghana-China mining dialogues in 2026. In August, the Minerals Commission hosted Chinese Ambassador Cong Song for discussions on technology transfer, local content development, and combating illegal mining . In October, Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah met with Guangdong Shengmai Tech Co. Ltd., which expressed interest in establishing a gold refinery and gold branding initiative in Ghana .

China's Zijin Mining already operates in Ghana, having acquired Newmont's Akyem Gold Mine in a $1 billion deal . The Ghanaian government has signaled that future partnerships must go beyond extraction, with Buah stating in October that "the real measure of success in the mining industry should be how much value countries retain from their natural resources, rather than simply the volume of minerals exported" .

The engagements in Nanning are expected to provide a platform for translating shared interests into practical investment and technical partnerships. Yusif reaffirmed the government's readiness to work with international investors seeking opportunities in Ghana's mining industry.