Ghana presented a robust case to Australian investors at the 2026 Africa Down Under (ADU) Summit in Perth, positioning the country as a stable, reform‑driven partner for the global energy transition. The pitch was led by Ghana High Commissioner to Australia, Ms Doris Brese, and Deputy Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Maxwell Yao Akpene Klu, who highlighted opportunities beyond gold.
Addressing mining executives, financiers and policymakers at the business meeting in Perth‑Western Australia, Mr Klu outlined Ghana’s shift from a dig‑and‑ship model to a value‑added approach that creates jobs and wealth locally. He said the country is moving beyond its traditional gold dominance to become a strategic partner for battery minerals and green technologies, citing lithium, bauxite, iron ore and base metals as key sectors.
Mr Klu emphasized that value addition transforms raw goods into higher‑value products, boosting income margins, reducing waste and creating jobs. He noted Ghana’s iron ore resources exceed a billion tonnes and the government is seeking private partners through the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) to build integrated industries from mining to refining and smelting.
He assured investors that Ghana’s legal stability, anchored in the 1992 Constitution and the Minerals and Mining Act 703 of 2006, creates a progressive mining environment. Recent incentives, including waivers for mineral exploration, further support growth. “The investor community is investing in Ghana with confidence, knowing their investments are protected by a stable political environment and a government that upholds the principles of good governance,” he said.
Ms Brese highlighted the foundational developments of the past 18 months under President J. M. K. Adams’ administration, stressing prudent economic management and transparency as reasons Ghana has become the continent’s premier investment destination. The Ghanaian delegation also attended the graduation of two students from the Minerals Commission sponsorship programme at Curtin University, with eight more scheduled to graduate in February next year.
Ghana’s pitch at the ADU Summit underscores its ambition to become a key player in the global transition to cleaner energy, inviting Australian investors to join the country’s journey toward a value‑added, sustainable mining sector.
