In recent years, the mining sector in Africa has experienced significant growth, positioning itself as one of the continent’s key economic drivers. This growth has been driven both by increased production of key minerals, such as gold, iron and copper, and by the massive inflow of foreign investment, especially from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has seen Africa as a strategic partner for the supply of natural resources and the development of logistics infrastructure.
Ghana remains Africa’s leading gold producer and a major player in the precious metal’s international trade. In 2024, the country’s gold exports reached US$11.6 billion, an increase of 52.6% over the previous year. This growth has been fundamental to the national economy, with gold accounting for 57% of total export earnings. It highlights the role of small-scale miners, who contributed US$5 billion to this figure, demonstrating the importance of the informal sector in the country’s mining industry.
The United Arab Emirates is the largest buyer of Ghanaian gold, followed by Europe and the rest of Africa, with Switzerland and South Africa as the main partners. Countries such as China, India, the Netherlands, Germany and Burkina Faso are also part of the wide network of destinations importing gold from Ghana. The Mining in Motion Summit, which will bring together international investors interested in participating in Ghana’s gold value chain from 2-4 June 2025, will add to this momentum. This meeting is expected to facilitate the signing of strategic agreements and strengthen the country’s trade relations.
New mining investments in West Africa and other regions of the continent
Aside from Ghana, several other African countries are receiving significant investment in the mining sector. A prominent example is the presence of the Canadian company Allied Gold in Mali, despite a series of negative incidents in March 2025. In addition, plans have been announced to implement renewable energy at the mines, with solar installations and energy storage systems in Mali, reinforcing the commitment to sustainability.
In other African nations such as Angola, Zambia and Mauritania, foreign investment in the mining sector has led to significant growth for the industry. In Zambia, for example, mineral production has increased at the Mopani copper mine, thanks to the presence of the Abu Dhabi company IRH. This increased the volume extracted and reduced the unemployment rate in the mining sector.
There is every indication that this trend will continue in the coming years as Emirati organizations are signing agreements with countries such as South Africa and Kenya to promote projects in mining, green energy and logistics. The latter sector will further strengthen Africa’s logistics infrastructure and facilitate the export of minerals to major international markets.
At Inafrica we help companies from all types of sectors to start their operations in West Africa in a safe, direct and efficient way. The mining sector, as you can see, will continue to grow and our team of professionals can help you start your business on the African continent. Contact Inafrica now and we will advise you throughout your commercial expansion into mining in countries such as Ghana or the Ivory Coast.