The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, has cautioned against calls for full government ownership of mining operations, warning that such a move could discourage investment and open the sector to political interference.
Speaking at a mining roundtable hosted by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in Accra on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Mr. Ayisi emphasised that while Ghana must secure more value from its mineral wealth, wholesale state control is not the answer.
He advocated instead for a balanced model, one that blends foreign capital and technical expertise with increased local equity and strategic indigenous participation.
“We need more Ghanaian involvement in mining, but full state ownership could weaken investor confidence and reduce efficiency. A mixed approach will deliver more sustainable benefits for our economy,” he stated.
Mr. Ayisi stressed that attracting investment while ensuring greater Ghanaian participation is the best path to long-term value creation in the sector.
“I will not advocate a situation where you will say that Charles Mensah Incorporated is a 100% owned Ghanaian gold mine or bauxite mine, and you have a situation where the powers are being appointed
“Rather, the state can participate by owning the mining in a different way. We have a fund [which is MIIF], they have investment in AshantiGold that is doing well. They have investment in Atlantic Lithium.
“They intend to do more investments in other institutions That route will be better rather than say that Rara Gold mines is now 100% owned by the government of Ghana,” he stated.
