Ghana has crossed a significant threshold in its mining evolution. The nation’s pioneering iron ore exploration project has successfully concluded its drilling phase at the Gyamurume block in Asato, Oti Region.
This landmark effort, spearheaded by Africa Exploration and Minerals Group Ltd (AEMG) and fully funded by Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC, aims to unlock a domestic iron and steel industry, a potential game-changer for Ghana’s economy.
The drilling campaign, initiated earlier this year, marks Ghana’s first-ever Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE) specifically for iron ore. Over months of intensive work, technical teams extracted hundreds of drill core samples.
Their goal was clear: determine the size, quality, and commercial potential of the iron ore deposit lying beneath the Oti soil. Initial findings are encouraging, hinting not only at viable iron ore but also at other valuable minerals alongside the primary target.
“This venture is data-driven, yes, but its impact is truly future-shaping,” declared Dr. Benjamin Dzoboku, Managing Director of Republic Bank, at the project’s closing ceremony in Asato. “While others hesitated, Republic Bank stepped forward. We believe deeply in Ghana, in African enterprise, and in using strategic finance to drive transformative development.”
The event drew government officials, traditional leaders like Osaberima Osei Bonsu and Togbega Gabusu VII, and industry experts, including Kedjebi District Chief Executive Dr. Sam Suruj Issaka and GIISDEC Deputy CEO Hon. Philip Oppong Amponsah.
AEMG CEO Isaac Obeng Darko captured the historic weight of the moment. “This achievement transcends AEMG; it’s historic for Ghana,” he stated.
“Republic Bank’s bold support will be remembered as the crucial catalyst for this groundbreaking exploration.” With the final drill core samples now handed over to Intertek Minerals for meticulous analysis, the project shifts into a critical evaluation phase.
The implications for Ghana are vast. Should the deposit prove commercially viable, analysts foresee the birth of a domestic steel industry. This could drastically cut Ghana’s reliance on expensive imported steel, channel significant investment into the Oti Region, and create thousands of jobs – from mining and processing to logistics and support services.
Crucially, the entire drilling operation relied solely on Ghanaian expertise, showcasing impressive local technical capacity. Professor Frank Nyame, AEMG Project Consultant speaking for the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, urged local communities to prepare for emerging opportunities: “This proves Ghana has the skills. Now, youth must ready themselves for the jobs and training the next phase will bring.”
Local authorities pledged to ensure widespread community benefits. Dr. Sam Suruj Issaka, Kedjebi DCE, assured residents that infrastructure upgrades, employment, and social programs would accompany industrial growth.
For Asato Gyamurume and Ghana at large, this milestone represents tangible hope: hope for jobs, skills development, and economic transformation. The Oti Region, often sidelined in Ghana’s resource narrative, now stands poised to become an iron and steel hub. As the nation awaits Intertek’s final verdict, the dream of Ghana evolving from a steel importer to an industrial producer feels closer than ever.