Ghanaian leaders call for economic self-reliance and local resource ownership

Leaders and business executives in Ghana are calling for a shift toward economic self-reliance and the protection of national assets. Speaking at the 2026 NkrumahFest, Patrick Appiah Mensah, Managing Director of Heath Goldfields Limited, urged African nations to move beyond political independence to achieve economic autonomy through technology, local ownership, and discipline.

Mensah emphasized that the value of Ghana’s mining sector should be measured by its long-term contribution to the country rather than just the volume of gold extracted. He advocated for training local engineers and geologists to international standards and increasing the involvement of Ghanaian businesses in the mining value chain to ensure communities remain economically viable after resource depletion.

Similarly, Dr. Hassan Ayariga, founder of the All People's Congress, cautioned against Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that might compromise long-term national interests. While acknowledging the benefits of foreign direct investment, such as capital and technology, Ayariga stressed the importance of safeguarding strategic assets, lands, and natural resources from foreign control to ensure genuine national freedom.