The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Minerals Commission, Andrews Tandoh, has firmly denied suggestions that the country is veering toward nationalisation of its mining sector. Instead, he says the government is focused on ensuring Ghana gets a fair deal from its natural resources.
Speaking in a recent interview on Joy News, Tandoh clarified:
“There hasn’t been a policy for nationalization. We are not Burkina Faso. We are not Mali. But we are pushing for indigenization. We support foreign investment. But some of these agreements cannot be in perpetuity. It cannot be forever.”
He argued that while foreign investors remain welcome, long-standing contracts and arrangements need to reflect the current realities and priorities of the country.
“If you’ve been given a lease for 30 years and you’ve worked through the 30 years, it cannot be business as usual. Those neo-colonial types of agreements cannot continue.”
According to Tandoh, the government’s direction is about fairness, not exclusion.
“This is about Ghana. This is about ensuring our infrastructure, our communities, and our people benefit from what is under their feet. We’re not saying don’t come. We’re saying, let’s do fair business. Let’s look again at what we signed 30 years ago. The times have changed.”
He was quick to emphasise that the process is neither haphazard nor reactionary.
“We are evaluating everything. We are protecting Ghana’s future. Genuine investors are not afraid of fairness. They are afraid of instability.”
In his view, Ghana is not turning its back on investors—rather, it is offering a better and more sustainable model of engagement.
“We are offering structure, fairness, and a clear plan for growth. This is not abrupt. This is deliberate. It is strategic. And above all, it is for Ghanaians.”
