The Ghana Chamber of Mines has urged the mining industry to move beyond highlighting its financial contributions to the economy and instead demonstrate tangible, measurable improvements in the lives of people living in mining communities.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Public Relations, Environment and Sustainability Seminar in Kumasi, the Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer, Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, said growing public scrutiny demands evidence of impact rather than corporate declarations.
According to him, stakeholders are increasingly skeptical of broad claims about mining’s benefits, particularly in an era where misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly through digital platforms.
“People want evidence. Our task is not simply to tell people what mining creates; our task is to show it,” he said, urging industry communicators to transition “from publicity to proof.”
Mr. Nantogmah noted that the mining industry made substantial contributions to Ghana’s economy in 2025, including more than GH¢24.2 billion in fiscal payments, approximately US$7 billion in domestic expenditure, of which US$4.2 billion went to local suppliers, and US$88.6 million in direct community investments by member companies of the Chamber.
However, he argued that the true measure of the sector’s contribution lies not in headline figures but in visible and sustained development outcomes.
“If we go into the mining communities, are we going to see that impact?” he asked.
He maintained that mining’s value should be reflected in thriving local businesses, improved infrastructure, enhanced livelihoods, sustainable employment opportunities and broader socio-economic development that communities can directly experience.
The Chamber executive also linked long-term impact to a supportive policy environment capable of attracting investment and increasing value retention within the country.
With gold prices remaining strong, he said Ghana should focus on leveraging the opportunity to attract exploration capital, expand production and extend the lifespan of existing mines rather than concentrating solely on extracting additional revenue from current operations.
Mr. Nantogmah further reiterated calls for Ghana to advance from local procurement to domestic manufacturing, arguing that limited value is retained when products purchased locally depend heavily on imported inputs.
“We need to move beyond buying locally to producing locally,” he suggested, emphasizing the importance of deepening industrial linkages within the economy.
Also addressing the seminar, Vice President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Ghana, Donald Gwira, underscored the importance of credibility and stakeholder trust in corporate communications.
Drawing a distinction between reputation and trust, Mr. Gwira said organizations can communicate reputation, but trust is earned over time through consistent actions and stakeholder experiences.
“Reputation is communicated, but trust is earned,” he stated.
He advocated a more strategic role for public relations within organizations, noting that communications professionals should be involved in decision-making processes from the outset rather than being called upon only when crises emerge.
According to him, early engagement enables communicators to anticipate stakeholder concerns, identify emerging risks and help shape effective responses before issues escalate into reputational challenges.
Source: businesspostonline
