Jubilation as Mahama Drops Another Big Announcement For Ghanaians

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to make 2030 a target year for Ghana to significantly shift away from exporting raw natural resources without processing them locally, as part of efforts to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and retain more economic value within the country.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the 2026 edition of the Future Investment Initiative, the President called for a new approach to resource management that prioritises domestic processing and the development of industries capable of transforming raw materials into finished or semi-finished products.

He argued that Ghana and other African countries could no longer afford to depend heavily on exporting unprocessed commodities while importing manufactured goods at higher prices.

“We cannot continue forever to be the exporters of raw materials,” Mahama said, emphasising the need to establish processing facilities across the continent to generate employment, particularly for young people.

He explained that the 2030 target would require deliberate investment in local manufacturing and processing infrastructure, enabling Ghana to capture a greater share of the value generated from its natural resources.

According to the President, the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic industries, expand economic opportunities and reduce Africa’s dependence on external economies for the processing of its commodities.

He said Ghana was working towards processing at least 50 per cent of its annual cocoa production locally, a move that would reduce the country’s dependence on exporting raw cocoa beans.

Under the proposed arrangement, the remaining portion of annual production would be available for export, while locally processed cocoa would support domestic industries and create opportunities for Ghanaian businesses to participate in more stages of the value chain.

The President maintained that expanding cocoa processing would allow the country to derive greater economic benefits from a commodity that remains central to its agricultural and export sectors.

Increasing local processing could also stimulate investment in manufacturing, packaging and related industries, while creating employment opportunities for people entering the workforce.

He noted that the absence of an alumina refinery remains a major gap in the country’s bauxite value chain, limiting its ability to move beyond the export of raw mineral resources.

Mahama called on investors to partner with Ghana to establish the necessary processing facilities and support the development of a domestic aluminium industry.

Such investments, he indicated, would help the country capture more value from its mineral wealth instead of relying predominantly on the export of unprocessed materials.

He further pointed to plans to develop downstream industries, including jewellery manufacturing, as part of efforts to diversify production and expand opportunities for local businesses and workers.

The broader objective is to build an industrial ecosystem in which Ghana’s natural resources serve as inputs for domestic manufacturing rather than simply commodities for international markets.

He argued that overlooking the continent could mean missing out on emerging commercial opportunities, particularly as African countries seek to expand industrial production and develop their domestic markets.

Mahama urged investors to assess the continent’s potential and consider partnerships that could support long-term economic growth.

He maintained that investment in local processing, manufacturing and other value-adding activities would be important to Ghana’s ambition of creating jobs, strengthening domestic industries and improving the economic returns from its natural resources.

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