Players in the country’s mining industry are making a strong case for targeted government incentives to unlock the full potential of the sector as a driver of industrialisation and economic transformation.
Sustained demand for critical mining inputs if matched with a robust regulatory framework and deliberate state support they say can fuel local manufacturing, reduce reliance on import and catalyse large-scale value addition across the industrial landscape.
Speaking during the official opening and factory tour of ALQU Rubber and Engineering Solutions in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, CEO of Mac Partners Group, Seth Quaye stressed the importance of aligning policy with demand-driven manufacturing.
ALQU, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mac Partners, has been established to locally produce mill lining for Ghana’s mining sector, in line with local content policy objectives.
The key product range of the factory are mill linings, wear plates, poly metals, lifter bars, rubber liners and screen media.
“The demand that is created by the mining companies, if regulated properly by the regulator with some incentives from government, becomes a foundation for industrialisation. This production unit you are seeing here is purely because the mine has demand for the products that we are doing. There are quite a lot of other products that can be done in that same manner. And if we structure it well, it can fuel the economy. I’m very hopeful that this is not just a one stop thing. It’s going to explode very soon”, Seth Quaye said.
He lauded the Ghana Chamber of Mines for championing local content development and expressed confidence that strategic investments in local supply chains will accelerate if enabling policies are sustained.
“The rubber production in Ghana is very large but for us, this is half of the capacity we intend to start with. I can guarantee that, in the couple of years to come we will expand – which means that local producers will have us. There are a number of products we will be producing which we haven’t started yet. So that will open more doors for local consumption.”
The Ghana Chamber of Mines backed the initiative describing it as a major leap toward industrial self-sufficiency in the mining ecosystem in Ghana and beyond.
“I congratulate Mac Partners for coming this far. It hasn’t been easy. As a Chamber we have been pushing for the local manufacturing of mining inputs to position Ghana as a hub for mining inputs. Coming here and seeing what is going on really gives me joy. I must emphasise that we have started a movement, and this movement is called self-reliance, Industrial Empowerment, and Pride in West Africa.”
“When we talk about mining, we talk West Africa. And when you talk West Africa, you talk Ghana. So, at the heart of our movement are companies like Mac Partners knowing that we now have high-quality mill liners right here on our soil”, said the Chief Operating Officer of Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah.
The mining sector remains a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings.
Stakeholders believe that building capacity for local production of essential inputs like mill liners will not only lower the national import bill but also stimulate job creation, enhance skills development and strengthen the industrial base of the country.
