Ghana has reinforced its position as Africa’s leading gold producer and one of the world’s top six mining destinations with the official opening of Newmont’s US$1 billion Ahafo North Mine — a landmark project that symbolizes the country’s commitment to responsible mining, shared prosperity, and industrial transformation.
Commissioned on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Afrisipakrom in the Ahafo Region, the inauguration ceremony drew national attention as Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, led the celebrations marking a new phase in Ghana’s gold story.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang described the project as a model of collaboration between Government, the private sector, and mining communities.
She revealed that Ghana’s gold industry continues to drive economic growth, contributing GH₵17.7 billion to GDP in 2024, up from GH₵11.7 billion in 2023, while gold exports surged to US$8 billion by August 2025.
“Today, Ghana is not just another gold-producing country,” she declared. “We are number one in Africa and sixth globally, a position earned through discipline, innovation, and partnership.”
The Vice President commended Newmont for its enduring role in job creation, infrastructure development, and community investment, citing the company’s funding of the 46km Sunyani–Ntotroso–Akyerensua road rehabilitation as “a symbol of the kind of partnership Ghana must champion.”
She further praised Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his decisive leadership in resolving community issues and maintaining peace during the project’s development, emphasizing that such traditional leadership continues to be crucial to Ghana’s industrial progress.
Looking ahead, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged a shift from gold extraction to value addition, stressing that Ghana must “move from exporting raw materials to refining and processing them locally — creating high-value jobs and lasting national prosperity.”
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, said the Ahafo North Mine is “more than an infrastructure project — it is a symbol of responsible stewardship and inclusive growth.”
He noted that the mine, developed with strong Ghanaian technical expertise, will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, expand opportunities for local suppliers, and boost community-based enterprises.
“We are open for business,” he stated, “but only to partnerships that respect our people, our environment, and our resources.”
Buah highlighted the Government’s unwavering focus on Local Content and Contract Mining regulations, stressing that local businesses must be empowered to grow alongside foreign investors.
He announced that discussions with Newmont are well advanced to roll out the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) — a flagship initiative that will allow responsible small-scale mining to operate within regulated portions of large concessions.
“This is a bold step toward coexistence and sustainability,” he said. “The true success of this mine will not be in the gold it produces, but in the lives it transforms and the infrastructure it leaves behind.”
New Chapter
The Ahafo North Mine, following Newmont’s successful Ahafo South and Subika Underground operations, stands as one of the largest gold investments in West Africa. The project cements Ghana’s position as a global leader in responsible mining and demonstrates the country’s readiness to leverage its mineral wealth for inclusive, long-term development.
