Ministry Targets Irregularities in Small-Scale Mining
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, on July 21, 2025, identified 907 small-scale mining licenses at risk of revocation after reviewing 1,278 licenses. Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah received a report clearing 316 licenses, while 962 showed irregularities, with 55 already revoked for issues like documentation gaps and procedural flaws.
The 907 licenses face cancellation if irregularities, including data quality issues, remain unresolved by the August 4 deadline. A three-member committee, chaired by Deputy Minister Yusif Sulemana, will handle petitions for corrections, ensuring fairness in the process as part of efforts to curb illegal mining, or galamsey.
The review aligns with President Mahama’s anti-galamsey campaign, which includes the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). Since January 2025, 1,345 arrests and 425 excavator seizures have been recorded, with 177 excavators confiscated in forest reserves alone, highlighting the environmental toll of unregulated mining.
A parallel audit of large-scale mining licenses is set to begin, addressing similar compliance issues. The Ministry’s actions, including the March 2025 revocation of post-December 7, 2024, licenses, reflect a broader push for transparency and sustainability in Ghana’s mining sector.
The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) criticized the two-week ultimatum as unfair, urging dialogue. The reforms aim to protect water bodies and forests, with the Minerals Commission’s licensing overhaul 85% complete.