Africa must present a united front to take control of its vast mineral wealth or risk renewed external exploitation, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has warned.
According to him, Africa’s abundant reserves of cobalt, lithium, gold, and oil could once again be exploited by foreign interests if governments failed to adopt coordinated and strategic policies.
Speaking at the third Executive Council meeting of the African Federation of Miners and Mine Workers (AFMMW) in partnership with the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) in Accra on Thursday, the minister said the continent stood at a ‘critical junction’ as globalisation and rapid technological change reshape global power dynamics.
The meeting, held under the theme: ‘Strengthening Unity and Solidarity among the African Unions of Mines to Confront the New Global Order and Attempts to Control Natural Resources and Rare Minerals,’ attracted trade union leaders from across the continent, including representatives from Zambia, Ghana, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and other mining nations.
“Africa must take its destiny into its own hands,” he said, urging governments, trade unions, and regional institutions to ensure that natural resources are harnessed to drive domestic development rather than external gain.
Dr Pelpuo noted that Africa holds roughly 30 per cent of the world’s critical minerals needed for the global energy transition, placing it in a strong strategic position.
However, he cautioned that countries rich in resources, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, continue to experience instability linked to foreign interference and illegal mining activities.
Citing figures from the African Development Bank, he said the continent’s untapped mineral wealth was estimated at about $8.6 trillion.
The minister also called for deeper regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing that increased intra-African trade would reduce reliance on external markets.
The General Secretary of GMWU, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, mentioned that the gathering marked a significant step towards building a unified voice for African mine workers.
He traced the formation of the federation to a meeting in Cairo in February 2024, where mining unions agreed to collaborate on improving working conditions and ensuring that mineral wealth benefits African citizens.
Mr Gbana raised concerns about intensifying global competition for Africa’s mineral resources, driven by demand for materials used in renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles.
He described the situation as a ‘new global order’ in which external economic interests often prioritise access to resources over the welfare of workers and communities.
Also speaking, the President of AFMMW, Mr Joseph Chewe, highlighted persistent inequalities in mining regions, where poverty and environmental degradation coexist with vast resource wealth.
He warned that without deliberate policies, Africa risks continuing to export raw materials while failing to deliver tangible benefits to its people.
Mr Chewe, however, urged members of the union to strengthen collaboration among unions to promote fair labour standards and advance policies to ensure Africa secures a greater share of the benefits from its mineral resources.
BY RAYMOND APPIAH AMPONSAH
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