Accra, March 27, – Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, has called on African leaders to prioritise value addition to natural resources as a pathway to job creation and sustainable economic growth.
He emphasised the need for the continent to assert full control over its vast mineral wealth, including rare earth resources, to improve livelihoods.
“As a continent, we must take absolute control over our natural resources and rare minerals to improve the quality of lives of our people,” he stated.
Dr Pelpuo made the call at the opening of the Third Executive Council meeting of the African Federation of Miners and Mineral Wealth (AFMMW) in Accra.
The meeting, hosted by the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress, was held on the theme: “Strengthening Unity and Solidarity Among African Unions of Mines to Confront the New Global Order and Attempts to Control Natural Resources and Rare Minerals.”
The Minister described value addition as “non-negotiable,” stressing that industrialisation, supported by technology and innovation, was critical to transforming Africa’s resource sector.
He underscored the importance of strengthening regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that increased intra-African trade would reduce dependence on external markets.
“By trading with each other, we reduce dependency on external markets,” he said.
Dr Pelpuo also highlighted the role of strategic partnerships in attracting capital, technology, and expertise to efficiently develop the continent’s resources.
“Strategic partnerships provide routes to global markets, boosting export competitiveness and ensuring mutually beneficial cooperation,” he noted.
Quoting estimates from the African Development Bank, he said Africa’s untapped mineral resources were valued at approximately US$8.6 trillion, presenting a significant opportunity for economic transformation.
Despite this potential, he cautioned that the continent faced a renewed global scramble for influence over its resources.
“Our collective challenge is to ensure that our resources benefit our people, drive development, and strengthen our position in the global economy,” he said.
Dr Pelpuo further highlighted Africa’s strategic importance in the global green energy transition, noting that the continent holds more than 30 per cent of the world’s critical green minerals, including cobalt, largely produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He called on labour unions to strengthen solidarity and play a more active role in shaping policies and advocating for fair resource governance.
The Minister also stressed the need to address insecurity and conflicts in resource-rich regions, warning that instability undermined development and deprived communities of benefits.
“Peace and security are the bedrock of Africa’s development and cannot be compromised,” he said.
Mr Joseph Chewe, President of AFMMW, said Africa’s mineral wealth positioned the continent at the centre of future global technologies and energy systems.
He urged unions to influence mining policies and ensure that mineral exploitation translated into local beneficiation, industrialisation, and job creation.
“The future of our minerals must not be limited to extraction but must include transformation, manufacturing, and job creation for our people,” he said.
Mr Abdul-Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, said AFMMW was established on February 27, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt, to unite African mineworkers and promote their rights.
He said the body also sought to enhance occupational health and safety standards, strengthen solidarity, and collaborate with governments and regional institutions to advance the African Mining Vision.
GHBUSS
27 March 2026
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