Africa must get fair value from critical minerals - Former Minister

Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has urged African nations to pursue a just and equitable approach to managing their critical mineral wealth, emphasizing its potential for economic transformation amid the global shift towards clean energy. He cautioned against repeating past mistakes where raw materials were exported, only for finished products to be imported at higher costs.

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Africa’s vast deposits of lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, manganese and other critical minerals presented the continent with a major opportunity for economic transformation.

Speaking at the launch of a research project titled “Justice in Critical Minerals Governance and Energy Transition” in Accra, Mr. Jinapor highlighted the significant opportunity presented by Africa's abundant deposits of lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, and manganese. The International Energy Agency projects a substantial increase in demand for these minerals by 2030 and 2040 to meet net-zero targets. Mr. Jinapor stressed that this transition must be guided by principles of justice, encompassing fairness between nations, states and communities, and present and future generations.

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However, he cautioned against repeating the historical pattern of exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

Mr. Jinapor pointed out that resource-rich developing countries often receive only a fraction of the value generated from their minerals, as refining, manufacturing, and technological development predominantly occur elsewhere. He cited Ghana's historical experience with gold and bauxite exports as an example. However, he sees Ghana's lithium resources as a chance to forge a different path, prioritizing local involvement, value addition, refining, technology transfer, and skills development.

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Resource-rich developing countries continued to capture only a fraction of the value generated from their mineral resources because refining, manufacturing and technological development largely took place elsewhere.

Furthermore, he underscored the importance of meaningful participation from mining communities in decisions affecting their lands and livelihoods. Justice, he argued, must also extend to future generations, with mineral wealth being invested in lasting assets like infrastructure, education, and technology. Mr. Jinapor called for a unified African stance on critical minerals to bolster bargaining power and ensure the continent actively participates in global green industrialization.

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Ghana’s lithium resources offered an opportunity to pursue a different path through greater local participation, value addition, refining, technology transfer and skills development.