The continent seeks equal partnership, John Mahama has said, warning against predatory resource extraction
Africa will not accept another era of colonial-style resource extraction as global demand for critical minerals grows, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has told the UN General Assembly (UNGA), calling for structural reforms to address historical injustices.
The remarks come as the US and EU pursue deals with African governments to secure minerals such as copper, cobalt, and lithium for electric vehicles, batteries, and power grids, while seeking to reduce their reliance on China.
African countries hold substantial deposits but often export raw minerals. A UN Trade and Development report published in June says many minerals agreements still focus heavily on extraction, warning that resource-rich African countries could miss out on the value generated by processing and manufacturing.
“Africa will not remain a passive arena for a new scramble for resources,” Mahama said on Thursday. He said African countries must process their minerals at home, build local industries, and retain more of the wealth they generate.
Several African governments have moved to tighten control over their mineral resources in recent years. DR Congo, the world’s largest cobalt producer, has banned exports of copper and cobalt concentrates to encourage local processing under an order reported in August. Zimbabwe also suspended exports of raw minerals and lithium concentrates in February.
Ghana has required licensed aggregators to refine gold locally since September 1, with Mahama pledging to end raw mineral ore exports by 2030. In July, the West African nation’s neighbor Mali created a state body to oversee artisanal gold sales and curb smuggling, while Niger nationalized the Somair uranium venture operated by French state-owned Orano last year.
Aside from critical minerals, Mahama also renewed the call for slavery reparations in his role as the African Union’s champion for the campaign. In March, Ghana secured a UN resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery as the gravest crimes against humanity. It passed with 123 votes. The US, Israel, and Argentina voted against it, while 52 countries abstained.
Mahama welcomed what he called “positive overtures” from countries, particularly the Netherlands, Germany, and France, as well as from institutions, on reparatory justice and restitution following the passage of the “historic resolution.”
The Ghanaian leader, however, said real repair requires “structural transformation,” including “dismantling the persistent engines of exploitation: unfair global trade regimes, predatory resource extraction, discriminatory credit ratings, [and] unsustainable debt burdens.”
“Africa does not seek charity. Africa seeks equal partnership,” Mahama declared.
