The Member of Parliament for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, has called on government to compel the Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) to establish a manganese refinery to add value to the raw manganese currently being exported.
According to him, “the manganese refinery that government negotiated under the NPP with the Ghana Manganese Company must be pursued. After one year in office, the NDC government should insist that the refinery is delivered. Otherwise, we should stop exporting raw manganese ore to China.”
For decades, Ghana has exported manganese largely in its raw form, despite the significant economic benefits the country could derive from refining the mineral locally.
During the previous NPP administration, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, announced plans for Ghana’s first manganese refinery. Although GMC later gave assurances of constructing a US$450 million refinery, there has been no clear roadmap toward its realization.
With GMC expected in 2026 to increase its manganese exports beyond 10 million metric tonnes, concerns are growing about the potential revenue Ghana continues to lose by exporting the mineral without value addition.
Speaking on the sidelines of the arrival ceremony of the MV CSB Years; the largest bulk carrier to ever dock at any West African port, with a capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes of manganese; at the Takoradi Port, the Takoradi legislator urged government to ensure GMC fulfills its refinery commitment or face restrictions on the export of raw manganese.
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He stressed that Ghana can no longer justify exporting raw manganese when refined products would yield far greater economic returns for the country.
“Today, we all know that companies like Samsung have developed new batteries for electric vehicles that use manganese and silver. We have all these resources, yet we continue exporting them raw. I am looking forward to the day construction begins on this refinery so we can add value, create jobs for young people, and support the industries that will come with this project. That is what I am asking for,” he said.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
