Small-Scale mining licences to be issued at the district level — Lands Minister

In a bold move to streamline Ghana’s mining sector and tackle illegal mining, the government has announced that small-scale mining licences will now be issued at the district level.

This decentralization aims to enhance transparency, improve oversight, and reduce bureaucratic delays that have long plagued the licencing process.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, made this announcement at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, emphasizing that the new licencing framework will involve District Security Commands and district mining committees to vet applications thoroughly. This process, he explained, will ensure that only qualified and law-abiding applicants are granted permits.

The decision follows recommendations from an 18-member Working Committee set up last month to review the mining licencing regime and propose strategies to combat illegal mining. The move is also part of broader efforts by the government to curb the environmental destruction and economic disruptions caused by illegal mining, or "galamsey."

Regulating Excavator Imports and Banning Floating Platforms

One of the major concerns surrounding illegal mining is the unchecked importation of heavy-duty excavators, many of which end up in the hands of illegal miners. Minister Armah-Kofi Buah revealed that in 2024 alone, Ghana imported excavators worth GHS 6.2 billion, making them the third-largest import item.

Expressing alarm over this trend, the Minister urged the Ministry of Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA) to collaborate on regulating the importation and registration of excavators to prevent their misuse.

In addition, the government has taken a decisive step to ban all floating platforms, commonly known as "Changfans," which are widely used by illegal miners to extract gold from riverbeds. These machines have been a significant contributor to the pollution of water bodies, threatening the health of communities that rely on rivers for drinking water and agriculture.

Seized Excavators to Be Repurposed for Road Construction

To reinforce enforcement efforts, a military task force has seized 60 excavators in the past two months. These machines, rather than being destroyed as in previous crackdowns, will be repurposed for road construction under the custody of Regional Ministers. This approach ensures that seized equipment serves a productive national purpose instead of becoming wasted resources.

Reclaiming Forest Reserves and Strengthening Mining Laws

The Minister also revealed that the government has successfully reclaimed seven out of nine forest reserves that illegal miners had taken over. Plans are underway to amend Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which governs mining operations, to completely ban mining in forest reserves.

A significant aspect of this amendment will be the removal of the President’s authority to grant mining licences for forest reserves, reinforcing the government’s stance on protecting Ghana’s natural resources from exploitation.

A New Era for Small-Scale Mining in Ghana

By decentralizing the small-scale mining licencing process, the government aims to curb corruption, ensure greater local accountability, and empower district authorities to manage mining operations responsibly. With these measures in place, the hope is that Ghana’s mining sector will shift toward a more regulated, sustainable, and environmentally responsible future.

-modernghana