Malawian Delegation Learns from Ghana's Mining Sector Experience

A Malawian delegation, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Mining and UNDP Malawi, has visited Ghana to engage with institutions and Civil Society Organisations in the country's mining sector. The visit is part of a Malawi-Ghana South-South Learning Exchange on Mining and Mineral Sector Development, initiated by UNDP Malawi to help Malawi learn from Ghana's experience in sustainable mining governance and development.

The Malawian delegation received lessons on various aspects of Ghana's mining sector, including mining governance, artisanal and small-scale mining formalisation, mineral value addition, local content, revenue management, and institutional coordination. The lessons were shared during a two-day meeting held at the PalmsBy Eagles in Airport City, Accra. The technical sessions were facilitated by representatives from the Bank of Ghana, Ghana Gold Board, and the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.

The Bank of Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchasing Programme was one of the key areas discussed during the meeting. Representatives from the Bank of Ghana took the delegation through the programme, while those from Ghana Gold Board shared lessons on gold market governance and responsible sourcing. The Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative also shared expertise on transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.

Malawi's Minister of Mining, Mr Thoko Tembo, said the visit provided an opportunity to examine Ghana's policy approaches and consider which lessons could inform the development of Malawi's own mining industry. He noted that Ghana's experience offered valuable insights, not only from successful reforms but also from implementation challenges. Mr Tembo emphasised that Malawi would identify which arrangements were transferable, which required adaptation, and which approaches Ghana's experience suggested should be avoided.

UNDP Malawi Resident Representative, Ms Fenella Frost, said the Ministry of Mining had requested UNDP support for a South-South learning exchange with Ghana in August 2026. She noted that mining and the broader mineral economy were increasingly important drivers of economic transformation, foreign-exchange generation, industrialisation, employment, and domestic value creation. The visit aimed to help Malawi tap into these benefits.

Dr Steve Manteaw, Co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, highlighted the need for a uniform system for managing mineral royalties. He explained that the current fragmented system undermined efforts to deliver lasting development benefits to mining host communities. Many mining communities were unable to use their share of mineral royalties for lasting development due to poor management.

The Malawi-Ghana South-South Learning Exchange on Mining and Mineral Sector Development is part of UNDP Malawi's efforts to support the country's mining sector development. The exchange aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and learning between Malawi and Ghana, two countries with different experiences in the mining sector. The visit is expected to inform Malawi's mining industry development and help the country maximise the benefits of its mineral resources.

Key points

• The Malawian delegation learned from Ghana's experience in sustainable mining governance and development.
• The visit aimed to help Malawi develop its own mining industry and maximise the benefits of its mineral resources.
• A uniform system for managing mineral royalties is needed to deliver lasting development benefits to mining host communities.