Chamber of Mines CEO Calls for Shift From Local Procurement to Local Manufacturing at MIME 2025
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for a decisive national shift from local procurement to large-scale local manufacturing within the mining supply chain, urging government, academia, financiers, and industry players to partner in building a globally competitive Ghanaian mining-equipment ecosystem.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Mining Industry Marketing Expo (MIME) at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, Ing. Ashigbey said Ghana’s mining sector has made significant economic gains over the past decade, but the next phase of growth must focus on converting mining demand into industrial capacity.
Citing data from the Minerals Commission, he revealed that mining companies spent approximately US$3.5 billion on goods and services in 2024 alone, representing over 49% of mineral revenue channeled to local vendors. The Chamber’s own accounting confirmed the figure, adding that producing members also contributed GHS 17.68 billion in taxes and levies and over US$28 million in corporate social investments that year.
Ing. Ashigbey noted that the performance reflects a clear upward trend in local procurement: from US$1.89 billion in 2021 to US$2.03 billion in 2022 and about US$2.4 billion in 2023. “The trajectory is unmistakable: Ghana is buying more from Ghana,” he said.
Despite this progress, Ing. Ashigbey stressed that local content must evolve beyond purchasing goods within Ghana.
“Buying bolts and overalls locally is a start; building the factories and technical capabilities to manufacture those bolts and stitch those overalls at scale, competitively, and to export standards is the destination,” he said.
He emphasized that mining should be used as an engine for industrialisation, not merely a channel for distribution.
Ing. Ashigbey outlined a three-part call to action for transforming Ghana into a manufacturing hub for mining inputs:
- Scale up local manufacturing of high-value components such as valves, steel parts, HDPE piping, and chemical reagents through coordinated partnerships involving entrepreneurs, financiers, and global technology holders.
- Strengthen financing, standards, and testing infrastructure to help Ghanaian firms meet international quality benchmarks and compete for OEM-level contracts.
- Expand skills development, apprenticeships, and technology transfer with institutions like UMaT to ensure more advanced maintenance, rebuilds, and retrofits take place in Ghana.
The CEO also highlighted the sector’s contribution to national stability, revealing that mining companies repatriated US$4.99 billion through the Bank of Ghana and commercial banks in 2024. The industry also sold 358,218 ounces of gold to the central bank to support Ghana’s reserves.
“These figures underscore how responsible mining strengthens Ghana’s financial system,” he noted.
Describing MIME 2025 as a strategic platform, Ing. Ashigbey said the expo was designed to link mining companies with suppliers while promoting innovation, collaboration, and the growth of local industries.
“The Chamber stands ready to work with government, academia, civil society, and private partners to convert policy into factories, contracts into careers, and mineral revenue into made-in-Ghana industrial strength,” he stated.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to remain committed to building an industry that “not only mines minerals but forges a nation.”
