MIIF positions Ghana for sustainable returns from minerals – Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has said Ghana is adopting a deliberate investment-led approach to the management of its mineral resources through the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

The approach, he said is aimed at enabling the country to participate more meaningfully in the mineral value chain while ensuring long-term national benefits from the sector.

He explained that rather than relying solely on royalties and taxes, the MIIF framework seeks to leverage mineral revenues to build a diversified portfolio of strategic investments that support sustainable economic growth.

“Through MIIF, Ghana is deliberately taking an investment perspective to mineral resources. It allows us to participate more meaningfully in the value chain by investing mineral revenues in assets that can generate sustainable returns for the country,” the Minister said.

Conference

Mr Buah said this during a panel discussion on the topic: “How close is Africa to real regional and continental integration?” at the 32nd Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

The four-day conference on the theme: “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships”, brought together governments, mining companies, investors, and financiers from across the global mining value chain to explore investment partnerships, policy reforms and the future of mining across the continent.

He explained that the Fund was established to enable the state to take equity positions in mining-related ventures, including infrastructure and downstream opportunities, thereby crowding in private capital while reducing the country’s dependence on traditional fiscal instruments such as taxes and royalties.

According to the Minister, this model strengthened investor confidence by signalling Ghana’s long-term commitment to the sector.

“Investors want predictability and seriousness of purpose. An institution like MIIF demonstrates that Ghana is not only regulating the sector, but also investing alongside partners for mutual benefit,” he stated.

Mr Buah further indicated that MIIF’s mandate aligned with Ghana’s broader industrialisation and regional integration agenda, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where cross-border mineral value chains and shared infrastructure are increasingly being discussed.

“There is strong potential for mineral-linked investments that cut across borders. Investment vehicles such as MIIF can support regional projects where individual national markets may be too small, but collectively become viable,” he said.

Touching on governance, Mr Buah stressed that investment must be underpinned by regulatory certainty, credible geological data and responsible environmental management, noting that these elements were critical to attracting patient capital into the sector.

On illegal mining, he reiterated government’s commitment to protecting legitimate investments while pursuing a balanced approach that combines enforcement with community engagement and formalisation.