Former President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Hon. Ebenezer Akuoko Frimpong, has reiterated his call on government to take deliberate and structured steps to strengthen indigenous participation in the mining sector, stressing that targeted policy interventions are critical to unlocking the full potential of local companies and advancing national development.

According to him, Ghana’s mining industry remains one of the country’s most strategic economic sectors, yet local participation continues to face structural and financial constraints that limit growth. He argued that, if properly supported, Ghanaian-owned companies such as Heath Goldfields have the capacity to expand operations, create jobs, and ensure that more of the country’s mineral wealth is retained and reinvested locally.

Hon. Frimpong made the remarks during an interview on the Oyerepa Breakfast Show on Tuesday morning, where he highlighted the urgent need for government to move beyond general policy support and introduce practical incentives that directly reduce the cost of doing business for local mining firms.

He explained that mining is a highly capital-intensive industry that requires significant investment in machinery, equipment, logistics, and technical expertise. However, many indigenous companies struggle to access affordable financing and also face major challenges when importing essential mining equipment due to high taxes and port duties. According to him, this places local firms at a disadvantage compared to larger foreign companies operating in the sector.

To address these challenges, he called on government to introduce targeted tax incentives and provide import duty waivers on mining equipment for qualified local companies. He stressed that such measures would significantly reduce operational costs, improve competitiveness, and enable Ghanaian firms to sustainably scale up their operations.

He further emphasised that supporting local mining companies is not merely a business policy issue, but a broader national development strategy. According to him, when indigenous firms are empowered to succeed, they are more likely to reinvest profits into the local economy, create employment opportunities, support community development initiatives, and contribute to long-term economic growth.

“Government must support capable local entrepreneurs such as Heath Goldfields to thrive in the mining sector because that is the only way the country can achieve sustainable development,” he stated.

Hon. Frimpong also noted that policy measures such as tax reliefs and duty exemptions should not be viewed as losses to the state, but rather as strategic investments aimed at building strong domestic industries capable of competing with international firms while contributing significantly to national revenue in the long term.

He added that strengthening local ownership and participation in the mining sector should be treated as a national priority due to its potential to transform livelihoods, reduce unemployment, and ensure that Ghana derives maximum benefit from its natural resource wealth.

He concluded by urging policymakers to adopt a more intentional approach toward supporting indigenous enterprises, insisting that with the right incentives and enabling environment, local mining companies can become major drivers of Ghana’s industrialisation and economic transformation agenda.