Ghana's Mahama Announces 2030 Ban on Unprocessed Mineral Exports

Ghana is set to implement a ban on the export of unprocessed minerals by 2030, as part of a strategy to bolster domestic processing, increase revenue from natural resources, and promote industrialization. President John Dramani Mahama announced this plan on October 19, 2026, during the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra.

This proposed ban follows Ghana's earlier prohibition on the export of unrefined gold doré, which took effect on September 1, 2026. Mahama emphasized that mining companies must invest in domestic processing to access Ghana's mineral deposits, with these obligations included in mineral agreements.

The ban will impact various minerals, including manganese, essential for steel production and batteries. Ghana is also introducing measures to enhance the value retained from its mineral resources, such as local refining requirements and a revised royalty framework, where gold producers pay royalties between 5% and 12%, depending on international gold prices.