African nations are urged to pursue a regional strategy for critical minerals to accelerate the continent’s energy transition and drive industrial growth. At a high-level conference on Africa’s critical minerals roadmap, Dr. Yao Graham of the Third World Network-Africa argued that while many countries are crafting their own policies, a fragmented approach weakens Africa’s bargaining position and reduces its ability to capitalize on rising global demand for green-energy resources.
“Lithium powers batteries, manganese and bauxite underpin electrification. These minerals are pivotal to the world’s shift to clean energy, and Africa sits on substantial reserves,” he noted. He also pointed out gaps in national policies: in Ghana, for example, policy discussions remain narrowly focused on royalties, whereas other nations tie critical minerals to broader goals of industrialization and energy strategy.
The conference united civil-society groups, policy institutes, private-sector players, and international partners, including delegates from Europe, Indonesia, and organizations like UNCTAD. The goal was to share experiences and craft a framework aligned with Africa’s Mining Vision and the African Green Mineral Strategy.
Graham warned that without moving beyond narrow national approaches, Ghana and other countries risk forfeiting opportunities and allowing external actors to exploit regional divisions. He emphasized that cooperation strengthens Africa’s position, calling for common frameworks to manage trade and investment so minerals contribute to Africa’s development rather than funding others’ energy transitions.
A national-only approach is insufficient, he argued. If Ghana and Nigeria both mine lithium, the question becomes whether parallel, disconnected plants will emerge. Regional collaboration, he suggested, would attract greater investment and build more value for the continent.
Echoing the urgency of the energy transition, Graham underscored that Africa suffers the most from climate-change impacts and cannot adopt a chauvinistic mindset. Phasing out fossil fuels is in Africa’s interest, but the transition should be gradual and well-planned rather than abrupt. He cautioned against complacency, highlighting that climate impacts are already harming livelihoods daily.
Civil society was urged to advocate for policies that prioritize value addition and regional integration. Africa’s mineral endowments offer a pathways to the energy transition, but rapid action is needed to ensure the benefits stay within the continent rather than flowing to others’ energy needs. The aim is for Africa to use its mineral wealth to fuel its own industrialization and energy security, not merely to export raw materials.
Event organizers indicated that the December 1–3 session will tackle strategic questions and policy options for Africa’s energy transition and critical minerals, with proposals for action through research, policy dialogue, advocacy, and community organizing.
The December 3–4 segment will bring together 15 key civil-society groups to form a core working group that advances the consultation’s conclusions and promotes a shared framework for critical minerals and Africa’s economic transformation.
This conference follows the adoption of the African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) earlier this year under the African Union’s auspices. The AGMS maps a path to harness Africa’s green minerals—such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements—to fuel sustainable industrialization, energy security, and inclusive growth. Its four pillars focus on advancing mineral development, building technological capabilities, developing key value chains, and promoting responsible stewardship for environmental sustainability.
Planned discussion topics include the evolution of energy-transition ideas, Africa’s prospects with critical minerals, and future bilateral arrangements with the EU, China, and the US. Speakers will feature representatives from UNCTAD, UNU-INRA, the African Union, the AfDB, as well as academics and civil-society leaders. Would you support a regional approach that prioritizes shared value and stronger intra-African collaboration, or do you favor country-by-country strategies tailored to national contexts?
