Exploration for iron ore in Ghana’s Oti Region is showing strong potential, with early data suggesting that the deposits could be commercially viable and possibly among the best in West Africa.
This development could significantly bolster Ghana’s mineral resource base and lay the foundation for a domestic iron and steel industry.
Driven by increasing global demand forecast to rise by 3% annually due to growth in construction and manufacturing the search for iron ore is being spearheaded by the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) and its technical partner, Africa Exploration and Minerals Group (AEMG). The exploration has focused on the Gyamurume area within the Kadjebi District since 2020.
Initial findings are encouraging. GIISDEC officials report discovering oxidised iron ore with iron oxide concentrations as high as 82%, translating to about 57% iron. On average, samples contain 67% iron oxide or approximately 47% iron content.
“These are just preliminary figures, but the signs are very promising,” said William Okofu Darteh, Chief Executive Officer of GIISDEC.
“While we still need laboratory confirmation, the quality appears to be very competitive even better than some deposits being mined elsewhere in Africa”, he pointed out.
These promising results have attracted the interest of several potential investors, but GIISDEC remains focused on completing its data collection before entering serious negotiations. “We are not rushing into anything. Accuracy and completeness are our priorities,” Mr. Darteh added
Credit: JOYONLINE
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