Lands Minister urges African countries to attract investors, insist on domestic benefits
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, has urged African nations to create attractive investment opportunities while insisting on value addition to drive their mineral infrastructure’s.
Speaking at the Ministerial Symposium of the African Mining Indaba Conference in Cape Town on Sunday, he advocated for synchronised policy frameworks across Africa to universally promote value addition.
He referenced the African Mining Vision as a guiding principle and commended the joint effort of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in setting common market pricing for cocoa as a model for collaborative growth.
Using Ghana as an example, the minister explained how governments can create a policy framework where both the state and investors play their roles. He cited the ongoing development of an integrated aluminium industry driven by the government’s policy framework for resource management.
This policy framework aims to exploit and manage resources effectively, balancing value addition and local participation with mutually beneficial arrangements for all stakeholders.
Mr Jinapor acknowledged the difficulties posed by inconsistent government policies in some African countries. He, therefore, emphasised the need for sustainable policies that prioritise the continent’s long-term development.
The Symposium concluded with a shared vision for the future of Africa’s mining sector: shifting from “rich Africa with poor Africans” to “rich Africans from rich Africa,” driven by responsible mining practices and value addition.
