Let African minerals build African futures — Sammy Gyamfi urges leaders

Sammy Gyamfi has issued a passionate call for bold reforms to transform Africa’s mining sector into a powerful driver of economic independence and youth empowerment.

“Africa holds 30% of the world’s known mineral reserves,” the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) said at the maiden Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra.

“Yet hunger, poverty, and underdevelopment persist. Why? Because we have failed to leverage our natural resources for our prosperity.”

He stressed that the future lies in innovation, investment, and ownership, urging African leaders, financiers, and corporations to rethink outdated models of extraction.

“We cannot solve today’s crisis with yesterday’s tools,” he declared.

“The minerals and mining sector must move from raw exports to in-continent beneficiation, from rent-seeking middlemen to tech-enabled trade, and from youth as labourers to youth as innovators, financiers, and owners.”

Gyamfi also called on African governments to create new financing structures to unlock capital for responsible mining and value addition, highlighting the need for collaboration between the private sector, investors, and policymakers.

“Let African minerals build African futures. Let our natural revenues fuel innovation, not corruption. Let our youth lead global trade — not just participate,” he urged.

According to Gyamfi, Ghana’s mining reforms under GoldBod, including partnerships with local banks, refineries, and global investors, are part of a continental agenda to place Africans at the center of the gold value chain.

“Ghana is resetting and Africa is rising,” he concluded. “The GoldBod is ready. All we need now is courage and capital.”