{
  "id": 15920596,
  "title": "Africa Retains a mere 5% of the Massive $29.5 Trillion Critical Mineral Value it owns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/africa-retains-a-mere-5-of-the-massive-29-5-trillion-critical-mineral",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T17:25:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/news/critical-mineral/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Africa is home to an estimated $29.5 trillion in critical mineral wealth, yet the continent only retains 5% of its economic value, according to African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe. At the Mining in Motion Conference in Accra, Belobe criticized the global extraction model, highlighting that Africa's vast mineral resources have not led to industrial development or economic prosperity. She warned that without radical reforms in domestic processing, value addition, and policy enforcement, Africa will remain trapped in a cycle where foreign economies benefit from mineral exploitation. The $29.5 trillion figure encompasses critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, manganese, nickel, and graphite, which are essential for green energy, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics. However, African nations see only a fraction of the profits, with most of the financial windfall, industrial jobs, and technological advancements generated overseas. To break the \"resource curse,\" Belobe and other experts urge African governments to implement structural shifts, including banning raw mineral exports, establishing regional value chains, harmonizing mining codes, and investing in renewable energy. The challenge lies in African nations lacking the capacity to implement these measures or being subject to exploitative powers. As global demand for green technology increases, African nations must act collectively to assert control over their supply chains and turn their mineral wealth into tangible wealth, sustainable jobs, poverty reduction, infrastructure development, and more.",
  "summary": "By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH Africa is home to a staggering $29.5 trillion in critical mineral wealth, yet the continent retains a mere 5% of its total economic value, according to African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Minerals, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe. According to Tatchouop Belobe, Africa holds nearly 30% of the world’s […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Africa holds $29.5 trillion in critical mineral wealth.",
    "Continent retains only 5% of economic value from minerals.",
    "Experts urge structural shifts to break resource curse."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}