Australia steps up engagement on West Africa mining and security

Australia’s participation in the 2026 West Africa Mining Security Conference (WAMS) in Accra has highlighted its growing interest in the link between regional security, mining and investment in West Africa.

Australian High Commissioner-designate to Ghana Keara Shaw and Nigel Stanier, Assistant Secretary and head of the Africa Branch at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), were among senior Australian officials who attended the sixth edition of WAMS.

Shaw’s appointment covers Ghana as well as Australia’s relations with Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

When announcing her appointment, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Ghana’s stability and regional leadership were important to Australia. She also highlighted cooperation in trade, investment and the resources sector, as well as efforts to support stability and security in Africa.

These issues featured prominently at WAMS, which brought together mining companies, security experts, government officials, diplomats and analysts.

The conference was held against the backdrop of security challenges in the Sahel, organised crime, illegal mineral trading and political uncertainty, all of which can affect mining operations across the region.

Shaw said security measures should protect people and legitimate economic activities while addressing organised crime and environmental challenges in the mining sector.

Stanier’s participation also brought a broader foreign policy dimension to the conference. As head of DFAT’s Africa Branch, he has worked in foreign policy, consular affairs and crisis response.

For Ghana, Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi said the country’s mineral resources presented significant opportunities for industrial development, but the security arrangements around the sector needed to keep pace with emerging threats.

He said mining security should be treated as part of wider national and regional security rather than an issue limited to individual mining sites.

The discussions at WAMS therefore focused not only on security at mining sites but also on the wider relationship between mining, investment and regional stability.

For Australia, the conference provided a platform to engage with issues involving mining, diplomacy, regional security and economic cooperation in West Africa.