Armah-Kofi Buah revokes small-scale mining licences issued after December 7

Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has officially announced the revocation of all small-scale mining licenses that were issued after December 7, 2024.

This significant decision was made public during a comprehensive news briefing held in Accra on Wednesday.

Minister Buah emphasized that the revocation was prompted by serious concerns regarding the adherence to legal protocols during the issuance of these licenses. He asserted that due process was not adequately followed, which necessitated the cancellation of these licenses to uphold the integrity of the mining sector.

This announcement is a direct response to an interim report presented by an 18-member Working Committee formed by the government last month. The committee was tasked with reviewing the existing licensing regime and developing a comprehensive strategy to combat the prevalent issue of illegal mining. Their findings highlighted systemic issues that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable and lawful practices in the mining industry.

“Based on the advice and recommendations of key committees, jointly with the minister supported by the EPA, the Minerals Commission, the Forestry Commission, and the Water Resources Commission, we are taking the following steps. We are going full steam ahead to revoke all licenses based on the findings. All small-scale licenses that were issued from December 7 are hereby revoked.

“Whether you have EPA licenses or not, the finding is very clear—those licenses issued from December 7 were rushed, due processes were not followed, and the right procedures were ignored.

“However, affected parties will have the opportunity to appeal to ensure the right processes are followed,” he stated.