Ghana Shares Gold Mining Model With Tanzania

West Africa WeeklyJanuary 23, 20262 Mins read20

Ghana has taken a leading role in shaping Africa’s future approach to gold mining, sharing its experience and reforms with Tanzania in a bid to move the sector beyond raw extraction and toward sustainable national wealth creation.

Officials from both countries met as part of a knowledge exchange initiative focused on transforming gold mining into a more profitable and development driven industry. Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer, has in recent years restructured its mining policies to increase state participation, strengthen local value addition, and ensure that mineral wealth translates into tangible economic benefits.

At the heart of the discussions was Ghana’s approach to balancing foreign investment with national interest. The country has maintained strong partnerships with multinational mining firms while tightening regulations around royalties, taxation, and local content requirements. These reforms have helped Ghana stabilise revenue from gold even amid fluctuations in global commodity prices.

Tanzanian officials expressed interest in Ghana’s regulatory framework, particularly its efforts to formalise artisanal and small scale mining. In Ghana, thousands of informal miners have been brought into the legal economy through licensing, training, and environmental controls. This has reduced illegal mining activity while expanding government revenue and improving safety standards.

Ghana’s mining authorities also outlined how the country has invested in geological surveys and data management to improve transparency and planning. Accurate data has allowed policymakers to better forecast production, attract credible investors, and negotiate fairer agreements with mining companies.

Another key area of focus was value addition. Ghana has gradually shifted away from exporting raw gold alone, promoting refining and local processing to capture more value within its borders. Officials believe this approach creates jobs, supports industrial growth, and reduces dependency on volatile global markets.

Tanzania, which also has vast gold reserves, has struggled in the past with disputes between the state and foreign mining firms over revenue sharing. By studying Ghana’s model, Tanzanian policymakers hope to avoid similar pitfalls and build a mining sector that supports long term economic stability.

Experts say the exchange reflects a growing trend of African countries learning from one another rather than relying solely on external consultants. South South cooperation, particularly in resource management, is increasingly seen as essential to addressing Africa’s development challenges.

Civil society groups have welcomed the dialogue but caution that mining reforms must be accompanied by strong enforcement. They argue that transparency, community engagement, and environmental protection remain critical to ensuring that mining benefits ordinary citizens and not just political elites.

For Ghana, the initiative reinforces its position as a regional leader in mining governance. For Tanzania, it represents an opportunity to rethink how gold contributes to national development.

As Africa continues to grapple with how best to manage its natural resources, the Ghana Tanzania engagement signals a shift toward shared solutions rooted in African experience.