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Government Committed to Reforming Small-Scale Mining, Minister Assures Minerals Commission Staff
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforming the small-scale mining sector. During his maiden visit to the Commission on April 7, 2025, the Minister emphasized the need for stronger regulations, community engagement, and sustainable practices to combat illegal mining and revitalize the industry.
The Minister called for an overhaul of the licensing regime and a review of the outdated 2014 mining policy. He proposed that prospecting licences should be granted exclusively to government agencies like the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) to lead geological investigations. Hon. Buah advocated for the decentralization of small-scale mining registration and recommended a “bottom-up approach” to the licensing process. He commended Mr. Ayisi for his exemplary leadership, particularly the significant expansion at the Regional and District levels of the Commission. He highlighted enhanced collaboration with agencies like the Environmental Protection Authority, Water Resources Commission, Traditional Authorities, and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to improve the registration process. As part of the broad strategy to reform the mining sector, Hon. Buah said the government intends to sanction MMDCEs whose communities are involved in illegal mining based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be set.
He further mentioned that enhancing oversight and community involvement requires the deployment of drones and advanced technology to monitor mining activities and track compliance in real-time. There is a need to ensure sustainable and responsible mining practices so that local communities and the state continue to benefit from mining while protecting the environment.
The Minister also engaged with staff and addressed concerns relating to the mining sector, such as policies to deal with illegal mining, the licensing approval process, and staff welfare, among others.
Mr. Martin Kweku Ayisi, CEO of MINCOM, welcomes Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to the Commission
On Monday, April 7, 2025, Mr. Martin Kweku Ayisi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission, welcomed Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, to the Commission. This meeting was the maiden and formed part of the Minister’s working visit to engage with the management and staff of the Commission.
The CEO warmly welcomed the Minister and his entourage, expressing his excitement at the privilege of hosting the team. Mr. Ayisi briefed the gathering on the general overview of the mining sector’s performance in the Ghanaian economy. He highlighted that gold alone contributed about USD11.5 billion in export revenue as of December 2024, with 40% coming from small-scale mining.
During the staff durbar held in honour of Hon. Buah, issues pertaining to staff welfare, sanitizing small-scale mining activities, and reforming the licensing regime, among others, were discussed. The Minister assured management and staff of his commitment to ensuring that mining is conducted in a sustainable and responsible manner. He emphasized the need for collective effort and alignment with the government to achieve the Ministry’s mandate of resetting the mining sector and tackling the environmental dangers posed by illegal mining activities.
