Government to restructure small-scale mining licencing regime;Chiefs,DCEs to have final say

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced a major restructuring of Ghana’s small-scale mining license process, shifting decision-making power to district-level authorities and local communities.

Speaking on Newsfile on March 22, 2025, Mr. Buah revealed that new applicants for small-scale mining licenses will now initiate the process at the district level, overseen by a newly established District Community Mining Licensing Committee.

The committee will comprise representatives from the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission, the District Assembly, and traditional leaders.

“This is not business as usual,” Mr. Buah emphasized. “If you want to mine, you must go to the district. The local committee, including chiefs and the District Chief Executive, must be involved. If they don’t approve, no licence will be issued.”

The minister explained that this policy shift aims to address concerns that mining permits are often granted from Accra without consulting local communities, leading to environmental degradation and conflicts.

Illegal mining, or galamsey, remains a significant threat to Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and farmlands despite various government interventions, including military deployment and public education campaigns.

Mr. Buah stressed that the new district-level licensing system is part of a broader effort to regulate small-scale mining more sustainably.

“We are not banning small-scale mining,” he clarified. “We just want it to be done properly, with the full knowledge and consent of the affected communities.”