Top Ministers from Nigeria, Mali and Ghana are expected to speak at the 19th edition of the West African Mining & Power Expo (WAMPEX), slated for Wednesday, 3 June 2026, through Friday, 5 June, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

Mr. Oladele Henry Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria, John A. Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Ghana and Pr. Tiémoko Traoré, Honourable Minister for Energy and Water, Mali are expected to grace the 3 day event.

This was disclosed in a statement from WAMPEX on Monday, June 1. Meanwhile, over 6,000 mining professionals are expected to convene for the program.

Read the statement below:

WAMPEX has confirmed the participation of ministers from Nigeria, Mali and Ghana, as the 19th edition of the West African Mining and Power Expo takes shape as one of the most significant convening events for the region's mining sector. The event, scheduled for 3 - 5 June 2026 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, has also received formal endorsement from Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

Mr. Oladele Henry Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria, John A. Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Ghana and Pr. Tiémoko Traoré, Honourable Minister for Energy and Water, Mali, have confirmed their participation. Their participation underscores the growing recognition among governments across the region of WAMPEX as a key forum for addressing the policy, investment and operational challenges facing the sector.

Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has also confirmed its endorsement of the event. In a letter to the Ghana Chamber of Mines dated 4 May 2026, the Ministry expressed its support for WAMPEX and confirmed its intention to participate, citing its role as a key stakeholder in Ghana's mining industry. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), Honourable Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, is confirmed to address the conference as part of the opening ceremony on 3 June.

Commenting ahead of the event, Adele Tolken, Events Director, dmg events, said,

"Having ministers from Nigeria and Mali address the conference, alongside the formal endorsement and participation of Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, gives WAMPEX a level of government engagement that reflects the importance of what is being discussed in that room. The combination of high-level policy dialogue and a 250 plus exhibitor show floor makes for a genuinely valuable three days for anyone working in West African mining."

Conference theme and programme overview

Running across two full conference days, the WAMPEXconference will be organized around the central theme: "How can responsible mining and power accelerate West Africa's sustainable development?" Sessions will address some of the most pressing questions facing the sector, including fiscal regimes and state ownership, critical mineral strategy, mine-to-market traceability, community development, security across the Sahel region, and the financing of West Africa's mining and energy sectors.

The programme includes panel discussions, keynote addresses, one-on-one sessions and sponsor presentations across three parallel conference halls, giving delegates the breadth to engage with the topics most relevant to their work.

In addition to the ministerial addresses, the confirmed speaker lineup includes:

Michael Edem Akafia, President, Ghana Chamber of Mines and Vice President, External Affairs, Gold Fields West Africa, who will chair the opening ceremony; Joshua Mortoti, Chief Executive Officer, Vortex Resources, who will feature in a one-on-one session with Dr. Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, on Day 1; and Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, Tarkwa Mine Manager, Gold Fields Ghana, who will close Day 2 in a one-on-one session moderated by Dr. Ashigbey. The conference will also feature senior representatives from Atlantic Lithium, Newcore Gold, Sandvik Mining, Endeavour Mining, the Ghana GoldBod, the Minerals Commission of Ghana, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Geological Survey Authority, the Environmental Protection Authority, SOPAMIB (Société de Participation Minière du Burkina Faso), the Ivorian and Togolese Chambers of Mines as well as a range of regional and international institutions.

Exhibition and event features

Alongside the conference, the exhibition will feature more than 250 exhibitors from 26 countries across 5,000sqm of exhibition space. Seven countries are making their debut at WAMPEX this year: Mongolia, France, South Korea, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia and the UAE. The exhibition currently stands at 51% local exhibitors and 49% international, reflecting the event's role in connecting Ghanaian and West African businesses with global suppliers and technology providers.

Event features include an Innovation Hub with workshops, live equipment demonstrations and a gala dinner. Among the exhibiting companies are AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields B5 Plus, Newmont, Zijin, Dutylex, Hexagon, FLSmidth, Liebherr Ghana, Sandvik Mining and Construction Ghana, Epiroc Equipment Ghana, Scania West Africa, Cummins Ghana, Weir Pumps and Diemme Filtration.

Key Event Facts

Date: 3 - 5 June 2026

Venue: La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana

Edition: 19th Edition

Expected Exhibitors: 250+

Expected Visitors: 6,000+ mining professionals

Exhibiting Countries: 26 (to date)

Country Pavilions: 10+

Website: www.wampexwestafrica.com

The event will bring together procurement specialists, engineers, operations managers, and business leaders, alongside more than 250 exhibitors from 20 countries, for three days of sourcing, networking, and high-level conference sessions. The information was made known in a press statement issued by the West African Mining & Power Expo on Tuesday, May 12.

Addressing the media, Ing. Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said,

“WAMPEX represents a critical platform for advancing local content development in West Africa’s mining sector. As the industry grows, it is essential that West African businesses, from suppliers and contractors to service providers and technology firms, are well positioned to capture a greater share of the value being created.

"Ultimately, the future of mining in West Africa will depend on how effectively we empower local companies to lead, compete, and innovate. The event showcases these capabilities and builds the partnerships needed to unlock the full potential of our industry.”

Headline sponsors for the programme include AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields B5Plus, Newmont, Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, FL Smidth, GK Europe, Jodi Construction and the Association of China Ghana Mining.

The others include South African Mineral Processing Equipment, Gekko Systems, Lyon Partner Alliance, PL International, Rema Tip Top, PowerX Equipment, The Bank Hospital and Protea Coin.

Twenty (20) countries, including Ghana, China, South Africa, India, Türkiye, Australia, Germany, France, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Finland, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Peru, the United Kingdom, and Mongolia, will be represented.

Mongolia, France, South Korea, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates will also make their debut at WAMPEX this year.

About WAMPEX

The West African Mining & Power Expo (WAMPEX) is the leading exhibition and conference for the full mining value chain in West Africa. For over 32 years, WAMPEX has connected international and local businesses with the region’s significant mining market. The event is organised by dmg events, in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Events & Projects International Ltd (EPI).

In an unrelated development, the government has formally handed over the Damang Mine, formerly operated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited, to Engineers and Planners Limited following the company’s successful bid for the concession on April 7, after the Minerals Commission reviewed submissions from several companies.

The handover ceremony was held at the mine site on Saturday, April 18, where the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, performed the formal transfer.

Speaking after the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, Ibrahim Mahama, pledged his commitment to demonstrating that Ghanaians are capable of investing in themselves, while promising major investments to benefit surrounding communities.

“I would say that, look, if we all put our minds together, this is a success story. And the plan I have for Damang Mine is not a joke. I just want to prove that we can invest in ourselves in this country,” he said.

Mr Mahama also outlined ambitious infrastructure plans, including the construction of a concrete road linking Damang to Cape Coast within two years, and the development of an airport within six months.

He said the projects are intended to drive economic growth and demonstrate the capacity of local companies to manage large-scale mining operations.

Background to the takeover

Discussions about the transition began about a year ago when the mining lease of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, under which it had operated for about two decades, expired.

Government, as part of its commitment to boosting local participation, declined to renew the lease and ordered the start of a competitive tender process to identify a new operator. However, it granted a one-year extension to allow for an orderly transition ahead of the final handover, which occurred over the weekend.

The bidding process

As the mining lease for Gold Fields neared expiry, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources announced a competitive bidding process on March 24 to select a new operator for the Damang Mine.

About four companies submitted bids before the March 31 deadline, which were reviewed by the Minerals Commission under the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176).

Following the evaluation, Engineers and Planners, owned by Ibrahim Mahama, emerged as the winning bidder after meeting all requirements, including technical, financial, and regulatory criteria.

The Minister assured transparency and job protection during the process, following concerns raised by Gold Fields workers.

Authorities indicated that bidders were required to demonstrate strong financial capacity, including access to at least $500 million in funding, as well as technical expertise and operational readiness. Engineers and Planners met these requirements and secured the highest evaluation score.

The Damang Mine, located in Ghana’s Western Region, is one of the country’s major gold-producing assets and has played a significant role in the national mining industry for decades.

Government officials said the tender process and eventual handover are intended to sustain operations, protect jobs, and strengthen local ownership in Ghana’s mining sector.

Minority reacts to transition

The Minority in Parliament has stated that the Damang Gold Mine now under the Engineers and Planners (E&P) Limited did not go through a “proper transparent and fair manner”.

In an interview with the media on Tuesday, April 7, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, insisted that the process was rushed and failed to meet the necessary standards.

“The same ministry goes ahead in doing that job on behalf of the President, sets up a committee with agencies appointed directly by the minister to oversee these processes and executes these processes just under four days. And you find this as going through a proper transparent and fair manner?

“You see, local participation is something that we all encourage but the process must be above par. That is what we look for, not anything. It must be so open such that any other person could put in a fortified bid. In this one, the person and the object are so bad that they do not speak well of us,” he added.

The Minority Caucus’ statement follows comments by the Acting Director of Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, Josef Iroko, who insisted that the handover of the Damang Mine to Engineers and Planners Limited (E&P) followed due process.

His comment comes amid allegations of favouritism in the awarding of the Damang mining lease to Engineers and Planners Limited. On April 1, the government initiated the official process to transfer the Damang Gold Mine from Gold Fields to Engineers and Planners after months of dispute over ownership.