In a bold step towards reforming Ghana’s mining sector, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has inaugurated a multi-stakeholder committee to review the country’s small-scale mining licensing regime.
The newly formed committee brings together representatives from major regulatory and industry bodies, including the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Water Resources Commission, the Forestry Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, the Ghana Chamber of Mines, and the Association of Small-Scale Miners.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Armah Buah described the initiative as “critical to ensuring the integrity and sustainability of the mining sector.”
“This committee will play a central role in making sure all mining operations adhere to Ghana’s environmental, forest, and land-use regulations,” the Minister said. “We are committed to sanitizing the mining sector, and this is a decisive step in that direction.”
The committee will be chaired by Deputy Minister and Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi, Hon. Yusif Sulemana.
Mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of existing mining licences, the committee will assess whether licensed operators have fulfilled all legal requirements, including environmental compliance, valid permits, and full payment of licensing fees. Licences of non-compliant operators will be revoked at the end of the exercise.
The Minister also announced plans to restructure Ghana’s mining classification system by introducing distinct categories for small-, medium-, and large-scale mining. The new system aims to enhance regulation and improve clarity within the industry.
With a two-month deadline to complete its work—subject to extension—the committee will establish subcommittees and deploy field verification teams to support the process.
“This is more than an administrative exercise—it lies at the heart of the sector-wide reforms we are driving,” Armah Buah added.
The initiative underscores the government’s renewed commitment to transparency, environmental responsibility, and effective resource management in Ghana’s mining sector.
Story by Sheila Otuo Baffour