By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
The West African Mining and Power Expo opened Tuesday at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel with industry leaders urging governments and companies to prioritise responsible mining and integrated power solutions as drivers of regional growth.
The 19th edition of WAMPEX, themed “How Can Responsible Mining and Power Accelerate West Africa’s Sustainable Development?”, will run until 5 June. Organisers say over 6,000 professionals, 250 exhibitors from 20 countries, and more than 100 speakers are participating in sourcing, networking and high-level discussions.
Speaking at the opening, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah said West Africa’s vast reserves of gold, bauxite, lithium, iron ore and manganese give the sub-region leverage in a world racing for critical minerals.
“The convergence presents a historic opportunity for our region,” he told delegates. “But we must move from a resource-rich economy to a value-driven mining economy. Success should not be measured solely by extraction volumes, but by how mining supports industrialisation, creates jobs, expands local participation, and improves livelihoods.”
Mr. Buah stressed that Ghana is reforming the sector to link mining with manufacturing and energy policy. He also renewed government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining through tighter enforcement, improved monitoring and institutional reforms to safeguard the environment.
Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey said the expo is a platform to grow local content. “As the industry grows, it is essential that West African businesses are well positioned to capture a greater share of the value being created. The future of mining will depend on how effectively we empower local companies to lead and innovate,” he noted.
Conference sessions will focus on sustainability, technology, operational efficiency, and formalising artisanal mining. Chamber data shared at the event showed ASM accounted for about 52% of Ghana’s gold output in 2025 but contributed less than 2% of mining tax revenue, highlighting the need for formalisation.
WAMPEX 2026 comes as Ghana toughens scrutiny of mining licence renewals and conducts a major audit of large-scale miners.
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