Justina Nelson, CEO of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), called for urgent action on investment, data sharing, and regional cooperation to help African nations extract more value from their mineral resources. She spoke at a ministerial roundtable during the African Minerals Policy Forum (Mining in Motion Conference) in Accra on October 19, 2026.
The event, held at Destiny Arena in Haatso, gathered African government officials, continental institutions, and international development organisations. The focus was on shifting away from exporting raw minerals to developing local processing and manufacturing industries.
Nelson pointed to government policies designed to attract investment and encourage value addition throughout the mining value chain. She said these policies could create jobs, build local industries, and increase the economic returns African countries receive from their mineral wealth.
She stressed the importance of sharing geological and other relevant data to better understand Africa’s critical minerals and to pinpoint opportunities for effective use. Regional integration, she added, was necessary to strengthen mineral value chains and allow countries to benefit more from their combined resources.
Participants identified several practical needs to develop mineral processing industries. They cited reliable and affordable energy, access to finance, transport infrastructure, geological data, and technical skills. Effective regulatory frameworks and improved coordination among governments, investors, and development institutions were also discussed.
The group explored the potential to process minerals used in clean energy technologies, including lithium, into higher-value products. Nelson urged that existing policies and legislation must translate into real outcomes. “Commitments to beneficiation must be matched by effective implementation and tangible investment,” she said.
She also called for mineral resources to be managed in ways that deliver lasting benefits for present and future generations.
The roundtable was part of the African Minerals Policy Forum, known as the Mining in Motion Conference (AMPF-MiM). The platform promotes the African Mining Vision, adopted by African Heads of State, which aims to harness mineral resources to support inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, and sustainable development.
Discussions at the forum centred on investment, sound policies, and regional collaboration to increase Africa’s capacity to process minerals locally and retain a larger share of mining’s economic value.
According to Joy Online.
