The Oheneba Poku Foundation (OPF) has strongly condemned the ongoing armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), citing its devastating humanitarian impact and the serious threat it poses to responsible mineral sourcing efforts.
As a champion of sustainable and ethical mining, OPF is collaborating with the Africa Mineral Strategic Group (AMSG) through the African Responsible Mineral Sourcing Initiatives (ARMSi) to ensure transparent, ethical, and conflict-free mineral supply chains across Africa.
The DRC is home to vast reserves of essential minerals, including cobalt, copper, and tantalum, which are critical for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and the electronics industry. However, the ongoing violence has
- Disrupted legitimate mining operations
- Escalated human rights violations
- Increased illegal mining and smuggling
- Destabilised local economies and livelihoods
- Weakened global efforts to ensure conflict-free mineral sourcing
“The crisis in the DRC is not just a local issue—it has global consequences,” said Fred Kyei Sapong, CEO of OPF. “For years, we have worked on building transparent and ethical supply chains, but this conflict risks undoing all the progress made in ensuring responsible sourcing and sustainability.”
OPF has urged all parties involved in the conflict to end hostilities immediately and prioritise peaceful dialogue. The Foundation warned that continued violence would only deepen humanitarian suffering while further fuelling unethical mineral exploitation.
“The DRC conflict is undermining global efforts toward fair and responsible mineral extraction. We call on governments, corporate leaders, and international organisations to intervene and support peace-building measures,” OPF stated.
The Foundation emphasised that without urgent action, minerals extracted under exploitative and violent conditions could flood global markets, tainting supply chains and undermining ethical sourcing commitments made by major industries.
As part of its response, OPF reaffirmed its commitment to:
- Enhancing due diligence and traceability in Africa’s mineral supply chains
- Strengthening partnerships with ethical mining initiatives
- Advocating for responsible sourcing policies in global markets
- Supporting community-driven development projects in mining regions
“We remain steadfast in ensuring that minerals essential to our modern world are sourced in a way that protects human dignity, promotes environmental responsibility, and fosters economic growth,” the statement concluded.
OPF urged all stakeholders—including governments, mining corporations, investors, and civil society groups—to work together in ensuring that Africa’s vast mineral wealth benefits its people, rather than fuelling conflict and suffering.
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