The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has called for greater responsibility in the management of Ghana’s mineral resources, warning that mining must be treated as more than a commercial venture because the country’s lands and natural resources are held in trust for present and future generations.
According to him, traditional authorities have historically regarded stools and skins as custodians of land on behalf of generations that have passed, those living today and generations yet unborn.
He said the granting of mining concessions therefore carries implications that extend beyond the immediate financial benefits derived from mineral extraction.
“For generations, our stools and skins have held lands in trust, for those who have left us and those living today, as well as those who will come after us,” King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II said.
The Ga Mantse was speaking at the National Mining Dialogue 2026, organised by Asempa FM and its flagship programme, Ekosiisen, in partnership with Semmis DS and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, August 18.
He stressed that the custodianship of land is temporary and therefore imposes a responsibility on the current generation to ensure that natural resources are not exploited in ways that deprive future generations of their inheritance.
“The reality is that we are temporal custodians of something that will outlive us,” he said.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II argued that the granting of mining concessions should not be regarded simply as a transaction between landowners, the state and mining companies.
He explained that every concession represents access to resources that have been preserved across generations and whose exploitation could have long-term consequences for communities and the environment.
“When a concession is granted, when a pit is dug, when a river is diverted, we are dealing with something that is far greater than a commercial transaction,” he said.
The Ga Mantse urged mining companies and other beneficiaries of Ghana’s mineral resources to recognise that permission to exploit the country’s resources comes with corresponding responsibilities towards host communities, the environment and future generations.
“We are placing a generational inheritance into the hands of those who have been permitted to mine these lands or to benefit from it. And with that permission must come responsibility,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged the potential of a properly managed mining industry to contribute significantly to national and community development.
According to him, responsible mining can help provide critical infrastructure and social services in mining communities, including roads, hospitals, schools, health centres and potable water.
“Properly managed mining can build roads, build hospitals, build schools, build health centres, and provide clean drinking water,” he said.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II also identified education and skills development as key areas where mining revenues and corporate investments could make a lasting impact.
He said mining companies could support schools, provide scholarships and invest in vocational training to equip young people with skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
He stressed that such interventions could help create sustainable opportunities for young people and enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.
The Ga Mantse therefore called for a mining regime that balances economic benefits with environmental protection, community development and the interests of generations yet unborn.
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