Ghana's Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has called for a united African front to take control of the continent's vast mineral resources, warning of the risk of renewed external exploitation. The minister made the remarks during a public address, as reported by Ghanaian state media.
Africa holds a significant portion of the world's critical minerals, including cobalt, platinum, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the global transition to green energy and digital technologies. Analysts have frequently noted that despite this wealth, many resource-rich African nations see limited economic benefits due to complex supply chains and historical trade structures.
Dr. Pelpuo's warning aligns with a broader continental push, exemplified by initiatives like the African Minerals Strategy, which aims to maximize local benefits from mineral extraction. The African Union has also emphasized the need for value addition and local processing to capture more revenue from the mining sector.
Experts point out that achieving this unity is a significant challenge, requiring coordinated policy, infrastructure investment, and negotiation leverage against well-established global market players. The success of such efforts is seen as pivotal for the economic future of many African nations.
