NEWS

Ghana Halts Small-Scale Mining Licenses Issued After Dec 7

Lands Minister Cancels Small-Scale Mining Licences Issued After December 7, 2024

All small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, 2024, have been formally withdrawn by Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. Following a comprehensive inquiry that found anomalies in the licensing procedure, the conclusion was made.

Mr. Buah said that licenses granted after December 7 had not undergone the proper screening processes at a news conference on March 19, 2025. He underlined that these licenses lacked the necessary regulatory evaluations and were issued in a hurry.

“The findings are very clear. Licences granted from December 7 onwards did not undergo the necessary scrutiny, and as such, they are now nullified, regardless of whether they were approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or not,”he declared.

This move aligns with recommendations from key regulatory agencies, including the EPA, the Forestry Commission, and the Water Resources Commission, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

In addition to revoking small-scale mining licences, Mr. Buah announced the immediate dissolution of existing community mining schemes. He explained that these programs had failed to serve local communities as originally intended.

“These schemes do not represent the interests of the communities they were meant to serve. We are dissolving them and replacing them with properly structured small-scale mining cooperatives that will be community-driven and accountable,” he added.

To make sure that the new cooperatives actually help the local population, the government intends to collaborate closely with representatives of the community.

A Small-Scale Mining Technical Review Committee will be formed to further enforce mining laws. The Minerals Commission, the EPA, the Forestry Commission, the Water Resources Commission, and the Attorney General’s Office will all be represented on this committee, which will be led by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

The committee’s mandate includes:

– Ensuring that all existing small-scale mining licences were legally obtained.

– Evaluating compliance with environmental laws.

– Assessing the impact of mining activities on water bodies, forests, and land conservation.

Licence holders must cooperate with the committee, which has been given two months to complete its audit. Failure to meet verification standards will result in licence revocation.

To close the gap between small- and large-scale mining operations, the government is thinking of introducing a medium-scale mining classification as part of its larger regulatory overhaul.

Mining licenses have been revoked in the midst of a parliamentary debate concerning Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which aims to take away the President’s power to issue mining permits for forest reserves. The Minority Caucus has opposed the rule, arguing that it should be reviewed more thoroughly before being adopted.

“Mr. Speaker, I urge you to place this matter on hold until the minister completes the required pre-laying process,” stated Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The majority caucus, however, contends that the rule is essential to the battle against galamsey. Parliament has decided to permit a three-day pre-laying process prior to the final submission after much discussion.

The government’s commitment to recovering forest reserves from illicit miners was reiterated by the Lands Minister. He revealed that seven of the nine forest reserves that had previously been controlled by illegal mining had been effectively regained by security personnel working with the Ghana Armed personnel.

“We are actively working to secure the last two remaining reserves. With continued efforts, we will protect our natural resources for future generations,” Mr. Buah assured.

The government is urging all stakeholders, including local communities, miners, and regulatory bodies, to support sustainable mining initiatives and uphold environmental conservation efforts.

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