The sector contributed GH¢17.7 billion in fiscal pay­ments to the government in 2024, representing an increase of 51.2 per cent increase from GH¢11.7 billion over the previ­ous year.

The President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Edem Akafia, disclosed this in Accra on Friday during the 97th annual general meeting of the Chamber.

It was on the theme “The mining and power hub: Driving sustainable investment opportu­nities in West Africa.”

Mr Akafia said dividends paid to the state surged by over 600 per cent to GH¢1.03 billion.

“This growth translated into a rise in the mining sector’s share of direct domestic taxes from 22.7 per cent in 2023 to 24.3 per cent in 2024. Similarly, its contribution to domestic revenue increased from 8.8 per cent to 9.6 per cent, while its share of total government revenue rose from 8.6 per cent to 9.5 per cent over the same period,” he stated.

Mr Akafia said mineral export earnings rose by 52.7 per cent to $11.9 billion from $7.8 billion in 2023, representing 58.4 per cent of total merchandise exports.

 “Gold exports alone earned $11.6 billion. The robust per­formance helped improve the balance of payments, supporting a reserve position of 2.9 months of import cover and aiding exchange rate stability. This im­pressive performance reinforced the mineral sector’s position as the dominant source of foreign exchange, with its share of total merchandise export earnings ris­ing from 47.0 per cent in 2023 to 58.4 per cent in 2024,” he added.

The President of GCM called for a fair and predictable fiscal regime, competitive operating costs, and robust infrastructure to help unlock the potential of mining.

He said the 200 per cent increase in the Growth and Sus­tainability Levy to 3 per cent, and its application on gross revenue, threatened the viability of the mining sector.

“This non-deductible levy must be reviewed to sustain in­vestor confidence,” he said.

Mr Akafia also called on the government to scrap the VAT on exploration.

“We urge the government to relieve exploration companies from the payment of VAT to incentivise additional explora­tion investment,” he stated.

Mr Akafia said despite the formidable challenges, the min­ing sector continued to deliver stellar performance, driving economic recovery, foreign exchange stability, and social development.

The Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Innocent Haligah, in his remarks said the mining sector served as a cata­lyst for the country’s economic development.

He urged the mining com­panies to cooperate with the GoldBod to create a harmo­nious relationship between the government and mining companies.

He pledged the govern­ment’s commitment to create a conducive environment for the mining sector to thrive.