Gold cannot save you at 2 am – GMTF challenges mining firms to invest in healthcare

Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, the head of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, has urged mining firms to prioritize healthcare investments in the communities where they operate. During the National Mining Dialogue 2026 in Accra, Darko-Opoku argued that Ghana's most valuable asset is its people, not its natural resources. She warned that a lack of healthcare infrastructure could jeopardize the well-being of everyone, regardless of their financial status.

At 2:00 AM, she emphasized, having money won't save lives; it's the immediate medical facilities around you that matter. Darko-Opoku cited the costly impact of medical emergencies on families, particularly those living far from urban centers, who would have to travel long distances for specialized treatment. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund's assessment revealed that Ghana's public tertiary hospitals only have two functional MRI machines, five mammogram machines, and two radiotherapy machines for cancer treatment.

The northern region, home to millions, had only two practicing cardiologists without the necessary equipment. Darko-Opoku urged mining companies to go beyond conventional CSR initiatives like building roads and schools. She challenged them to partner with the GMTF to address healthcare needs in their operational areas, provide medical equipment, support specialist training, and develop lasting health infrastructure.

Darko-Opoku stressed that true social license means improving the health and longevity of communities, not just tolerating their presence. She called on mining firms to show tangible outcomes, such as establishing cancer centers and installing cardiac labs that save lives in their host communities. She concluded by emphasizing that the true measure of a mining company's legacy should be the lives it has improved and saved, not just the gold extracted or profits made.