Mining in Motion: Uniting Industry Leaders for a Sustainable Mining Future

The Mining in Motion Summit was held from June 2–4, 2025 in Accra. Under the theme “Sustainable Mining & Local Growth – Leveraging Resources for Global Impact,” the summit brought together key decision-makers, including H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, as well as representatives from public and private mining institutions across South Africa, the Republic of Guinea, the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations.

Organized by the Ashanti Green Initiative in collaboration with the World Bank, the World Gold Council, and other international partners, the three-day event highlighted the role of traditional authorities in shaping artisanal and small-scale mining practices, while emphasizing the sector’s contribution to employment and economic development..

In 2024 alone, Ghana’s artisanal miners generated $5 billion in foreign exchange earnings through gold exports. The sector provided direct employment to over one million Ghanaians and accounted for 35% of the country’s domestic gold output, affirming its potential to drive significant socioeconomic growth.

Ghana’s President John Mahama officially opened the Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra, calling for greater investment across the downstream value chain. Citing the need to reimagine mining in Africa, President Mahama underscored the value of the downstream mining industry in building resilient and diversified economies across the continent. 

As Ghana’s mining sector continued its transition toward sustainable development, the summit showcased best practices for integrating ASGM into the global financial system. Representatives from prominent international financing institutions shared critical insights to advance responsible investment in the sector.

Rich in a variety of mineral resources, Africa is well-positioned to leverage its mining industry and the growing global demand for critical minerals to drive long-term and sustainable economic growth. According to President Mahama, the continent “is rich in gold, bauxite, lithium, cobalt and other rare earth minerals. Our continent holds 90% of global platinum reserves, 79% of phosphate rocks and over half of the world’s manganese. Mining contributes substantially to our GDP and employment; but it has not transformed the lives of our citizens as it should.”

As such, Ghana is implementing a series of initiatives to strengthen the downstream value chain, aiming to bolster employment opportunities, formalize small-scale mining and support revenue generation.

“We will be investing in the downstream value chain. We must integrate mining into the broader economic framework – that is how we build resilient and diversified economies. We believe there should be increased participation by Ghanians in exploiting our mineral wealth. We welcome investors to partner with us,” President Mahama added.

Insights from industry leaders affirmed the role Ghana’s mining industry continues to play in the country’s economy. Delivering a welcome address, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Asante Kingdom, highlighted the role of traditional authorities in empowering artisanal and small-scale miners to ensure the sector enhances its contribution to industry growth.

“Gold, diamonds and critical minerals represent the best option for sustainable growth for Africa. They are the economic health of economies,” stated King Tutu II, adding that “We have an opportunity to use policies to address industry problems. The Gold Board presents an opportunity for new investments to come in.”

Ghana’s mining industry accounts for approximately 12% of the country’s GDP. The industry also accounts for the highest employment in the country. Looking ahead, Ghana seeks to consolidate its position as a regional mining hub, utilizing platforms such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to accelerate regional trade and exports. Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA, spoke about best practices to enhance regional gold trading and cooperation to bolster mining sector expansion.

According to Mene, to address mining sector challenges, it is imperative to enhance digitalization to reduce transaction costs and enhance traceability and financial inclusion. He added that the Mining in Motion 2025 summit is timely, given the African Union adoption of its Digital Protocol in February. The protocol aims to use digitalization mechanisms such as gold tokenization to drive sustainability, poverty eradication and to create jobs.

“There are challenges to economic growth such as nationalization of resources and trade wars. Africa must respond to these challenges. AfCFTA provides an opportunity to create a [regional] market and achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063 of economic integration,” stated Mene.

Through a series of high-level panel discussions, project showcases, strategic deal signings, and exclusive networking engagements, the Mining in Motion Summit served as a landmark platform to connect Ghanaian miners with regional counterparts and global investors, resulting in the formation of new, impactful industry partnerships.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom; Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana; and Oheneba Kwaku Duah, the son of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Managing Director of the Ashanti Green Initiative, were the key stake stakeholders behind the Mining in Motion Summit in Ghana.