Social licence must be reimagined as a development compact with the youth – Sammy Gyamfi

Sammy Gyamfi, CEO of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), has urged a radical rethinking of social licence principles in Ghana's mining regions. He emphasized that the aspirations of the country's youth must be integrated into the wealth generated from their natural resources. Mr Gyamfi highlighted the concerning disparity between the mineral wealth extracted from these communities and the limited economic prospects available to young people.

"For me, the strongest reason to rethink social licence is the youth question," he stated. He observed that young individuals in mining communities often bear witness to the extraction of valuable minerals from their surroundings, yet they struggle to secure stable employment, acquire essential skills, or participate meaningfully in the economic benefits stemming from mining activities.

Mr Gyamfi described this dynamic as an unfair contradiction that could erode trust between mining companies and the communities they operate in. "This contradiction is dangerous, it is not fair, and it is not sustainable," he asserted. The GoldBod CEO argued that if young people perceived mining as offering only low-skilled or temporary roles, it would be challenging to maintain social license.

The National Mining Dialogue, organized by Asempa 94.7 FM, Ekosiisen, Semmis DS, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, brought this issue to light. Mr Gyamfi also criticized the notion that some young individuals in mining areas are merely a nuisance or a security threat. He urged a shift towards recognizing opportunities that offer decent work, technical and vocational training, ownership, and a sustainable long-term economic future.

Such initiatives could empower young people to engage in the broader mining value chain, moving beyond the sidelines of an industry operating in their backyard.