‘Gold cannot save you at 2am’ – Obuobia Darko challenges mining giants to invest in healthcare

Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), has called on Ghana's mining industry to prioritize healthcare investment over traditional social responsibility projects like roads and schools. At the National Mining Dialogue 2026 in Accra, she argued that true wealth lies in people, not the soil, and warned that when a nation's health declines, all industries suffer.

She highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare systems in emergencies, such as cardiac arrests at night, where wealth cannot provide timely medical intervention. Darko-Opoku shared the heartbreaking stories of families who lose their savings and property due to limited healthcare access, especially when specialized equipment like MRI machines and radiotherapy machines are unavailable nearby.

She revealed that Ghana's public tertiary hospitals have only a few functional MRI and mammogram machines, and only two practising cardiologists serving millions, with the northern region being particularly underserved. The Administrator challenged mining companies to go beyond conventional CSR by investing in healthcare infrastructure and equipment to improve the quality of life in host communities.

She urged them to think about the lasting impact their operations can have on communities, promising to transform lives through accessible healthcare. Darko-Opoku invited mining companies to collaborate with the GMTF in assessing healthcare needs, co-investing in medical equipment, and sponsoring specialist training. She emphasized that a true social license should ensure communities live longer, healthier lives due to the company's presence.

Ultimately, she warned that while gold extraction is valuable, Ghana's most critical resource is its people.