Henry Antwi, a Mining Engineer, stresses the pressing need for Ghana to update its mining laws and policies to attract investments and maintain global competitiveness.

He suggests that Ghana should draw inspiration from neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, which continually refine their mining policies to maximize benefits from mineral resources.

Antwi points out that Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast have taken cues from Ghana's mining policies and improved upon them to entice investors.

Speaking at a public lecture in Kumasi, Antwi highlights the aspirations of many students studying in Ghana's mining universities to develop human resources in the sector.

The public lecture, themed "Harnessing the Transformative Power of Ghana’s Mineral Wealth for Human Development and Sustainable Economic Growth," was organized by the College of Engineering at KNUST.

Antwi underscores the significant role of mining in powering the global economy, creating employment opportunities, and influencing livelihoods.

According to the Chamber of Mines' 2022 Report, mining contributes about 19% to Ghana's domestic tax receipts and approximately $6.8 billion in exports, with minerals accounting for 39%. Despite its significant contributions, the mining industry in Ghana faces challenges such as price fluctuations, declining ore quality, and exploration risks.

Antwi emphasizes the importance of developing robust infrastructure, including efficient energy, ports, railways, and improving mineral governance to enhance transparency.

Explaining that exploration is paramount in mining, Antwi suggests initiating tax credits to attract investors and streamlining the process of granting mining licenses. He proposes collaboration between academia and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to create a comprehensive atlas of mineral sites to attract mining investors. Antwi urges Ghana to minimize administrative bottlenecks in granting mining licenses, which he believes are often influenced by political factors.