Dr Toni Aubynn is a mining expert
Mining expert, Dr Toni Aubynn, has urged government to take a more active role in efforts to establish an integrated minerals market across the African continent.
Speaking on a panel discussion at the Africa Trade Summit on Thursday, January 29, 2026, Dr Aubynn stated that the need for regional integration in Africa is now more urgent than ever, given the increasingly inward-looking and fragmented geopolitical dynamics in recent times.
He maintained that Ghana, already a global leader in the mining sector, stands to gain substantial benefits from a well-integrated regional market.
Dr Aubynn explained that carefully planned regional integration would provide Ghanaian mining investors with an excellent opportunity to expand their operations into other African countries.
He stressed that an integrated continental minerals market would enable African nations to derive maximum benefit from their natural resources.
He noted that, despite years of discussion, regional bodies such as the African Union have yet to achieve meaningful integration in this area.
“Africa’s continued fragmentation is a choice, not a destiny. Harmonisation is not about surrendering sovereignty, it is about leveraging scale to enhance national gains. African leaders must muster the political courage to implement genuine integration policies,” he said.
Dr Aubynn believes that stronger leadership and commitment from major mining countries like Ghana could accelerate progress and unlock new markets and opportunities for the continent’s resources.
“Our government must recognise the benefits of integration, and it must be implemented carefully. Integration does not mean assimilation, nor does it require every country to do everything in exactly the same way. For example, we can introduce a sliding-scale system for royalties and taxes to incentivise those who choose to process minerals locally,” the mining expert stated.
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“I strongly support President John Dramani Mahama and his government’s drive to take an active role in this process. We have been discussing this issue for many years, and it is my hope that we finally make real progress. We are now at a point where Ghana and the continent as a whole, stands to gain significantly from carefully planned integration,” he said.
Dr Aubynn also expressed serious concern about recent proposals in the ongoing review of the Minerals and Mining Act, particularly the suggestion to completely eliminate the Stability and Development Agreements provision.
“I am surprised and worried that we are proposing to eliminate Stability and Development Agreements entirely. The current thinking appears to be that because foreign investors have benefited from these agreements and perhaps abused them, we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. But why not retain and adapt this mechanism to incentivise local Ghanaian investors?” he quizzed.
“Are our local private investors not also interested in tax and regulatory stability over a defined period after committing significant capital? Why not expand the eligibility threshold. For example, from the current US$500 million to US$1.5 billion for foreign companies and US$500 million for local mining firms, as an incentive? Why are we creating the impression that Development Agreements are inherently bad and were designed only for foreign investors in the mining sector?” he asked.
The Africa Trade Summit 2026, organised by the African Trade Chamber in partnership with the Government of Ghana brought together decision-makers shaping Africa’s economic transformation under the frameworks of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s long-term development blueprint.
SA
