The 2026 Africa Regional Extractives Industries Knowledge Hub (AFREIKH) Summer School, hosted by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), with support from the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and GIZ, is underway in Accra, Ghana, focusing on the critical question: can Africa finally harness its vast critical mineral wealth to achieve sustainable development? The event, a week-long intensive program, brings together next-generation researchers, policymakers, and leaders from across Anglophone Africa, representing diverse sectors including energy, mining, and governance. The summit addresses a pivotal moment – the global shift towards transition minerals, notably lithium, manganese, graphite, nickel, and cobalt – driven by the imperative of decarbonizing the energy sector. With the global energy transition accelerating, Africa stands at a critical juncture, poised to either repeat past resource failures or forge a path towards a more sustainable and industrialized future. Organised by ACEP, with collaborative support from the NRGI and GIZ, the school’s opening remarks were delivered by Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director of ACEP, who candidly addressed the legacy of crude oil and precious mineral exploitation. He stated, “Across the African continent, crude oil exploration has generated immense expectations, yet too often those expectations haven’t translated into substantial development,” Mr. Boakye emphasized. “We’ve witnessed revenue losses, institutional weaknesses, and missed opportunities for economic transformation.” He further highlighted that mining has often been linked to environmental degradation, disproportionately impacting local communities, and leaving behind a lack of economic benefits. Instead of ignoring this historical reality, he urged stakeholders to collectively reflect on their past mistakes and use these lessons to drive crucial reforms. He asserted that the critical minerals beneath African soil must serve a higher purpose – to facilitate leapfrogging development and address the poverty threatening millions of Africans. The resource beneath the soil, he argued, shouldn’t be a curse but a catalyst for progress, enabling Africa to outperform other nations in terms of resource extraction. To address this paradox, the call to action is for a cohesive regional strategy. “Collectively, the continent must become more strategic about where it can process, manufacture, innovate, build regional markets, and develop the skills and infrastructure that will allow value to remain within this continent,” Ms. Quarshie, Africa Director of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), declared. She challenged participants to actively dismantle outdated extractive frameworks. She argued that the continent cannot remain energy-poor, capital-constrained, and insufficiently industrialised while holding critical resources to the global green transition. To that end, the embassy of Switzerland, as part of the European Union’s strategic initiatives, emphasized that natural wealth alone cannot guarantee development. “As global energy systems evolve through the energy transition, rising demand for critical minerals and shifting investment trends, Africa must move beyond being a resource supplier to capturing greater value from its national wealth,” she said. Ms. Wüst, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland, underscored that natural wealth alone cannot guarantee development. “As global energy systems evolve through the energy transition, rising demand for critical minerals and shifting investment trends, Africa must move beyond being a resource supplier to capturing greater value from its national wealth,” she said. “A successful energy transition will not only depend on Africa’s resources but also on the strength of its institutions and the capacity of its people who command them,” Mr. Boakye noted. The Summer School, running until August 27, is designed to equip participants with the tools, knowledge, and perspectives necessary to navigate the complex governance and fiscal challenges associated with the extractive sector. The event anticipates a significant focus on enhancing governance, promoting transparency, and strengthening institutional capacity. The organization has warned that corruption risks and persistent governance challenges could undermine the potential gains, and the energy transition presents significant socioeconomic and environmental challenges. To seize the opportunity presented by the critical minerals boom, resource-rich African countries must adopt economic policies that integrate the demands of the energy transition while promoting transparent and inclusive governance. Mr. Boakye concluded by stating, “ACEP remains committed to changing the continent’s trajectory ‘through a comity of people willing to learn together, challenge each other, remain committed for the long term.’” Tatale Sanguli officials destroyed expired food products, warn traders, and Tanoso Traditional Council funds several anti-galamsey operations – Ankobeahene.””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
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Source: Adom Online
