‘Treat Mining Communities As Devt Partners, Not Land Donors’

Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi has called for mining communities to be viewed as partners in development and shareholders in the industry, rather than just land donors. Speaking at the National Mining Dialogue 2026, Gyamfi emphasized that mining communities should have a significant share in the benefits generated from mining activities and that their concerns should be central in decisions related to resource exploitation.

He stated that mining communities should transition from being mere recipients of land to becoming stakeholders in the mining sector, and that their consent should be an essential part of the social license to operate. Gyamfi argued that the current situation of poverty, poor infrastructure, limited access to clean water, and high youth unemployment in many mining communities is unacceptable, given the valuable resources extracted from their lands.

The CEO proposed a "Involve, Protect and Expand" framework as a model to transform the relationship between mining companies, communities, and the state. He also advocated for increased Ghanaian ownership and participation in the mining industry, stressing that without local ownership and value addition, the benefits of mining would continue to be limited.

The GoldBod CEO urged stakeholders in the mining sector to collaborate in building an industry that brings tangible development to host communities, including job creation, business opportunities, infrastructure development, and improved living standards. He emphasized that if Ghana gets this right, it would not only produce gold but also foster prosperous mining towns and strengthen community trust.