Government Moves to Eliminate Prospecting Licences for Small-Scale Miners in Policy Shift——The government is set to end the issuance of prospecting licences to small-scale miners as part of broader efforts to reform Ghana‘s mining sector.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, says the current system is prone to abuse, with some license holders engaging in full-scale gold mining under the guise of prospecting, which is illegal.
“By the time I leave office, there will be no prospecting licence for small-scale mining. It’s being misused as a backdoor to start mining illegally,” the Minister declared during his maiden working visit to the Minerals Commission.
In place of prospecting licences, he said the government plans to equip the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) to carry out detailed geological investigations of gold-rich areas. These mapped areas will then guide the issuance of legitimate mining licences, ensuring a more regulated and transparent process.
Mr. Buah stressed the need to overhaul the licensing process in line with the government’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda, emphasizing that the Minerals Commission must serve as a firm and impartial regulator of the mining sector.
“We live in a country where everyone is chasing gold and digging everywhere. We need to enforce the rules to protect our water bodies and forests,” he said.
He further noted that government is shifting from a top-down licensing approach to a more inclusive, bottom-up model that involves chiefs and local stakeholders in decision-making.
The Minister urged officials of the Minerals Commission to act professionally and distance themselves from political interference. “If anyone here intends to stand in the way of reforms, that person should step aside. But if you do your job professionally, you have my full support,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the government’s reform agenda.
With 407 staff members stationed nationwide, he said the Commission would intensify field operations to ensure responsible mining practices are upheld.
Nonetheless, mining remains a key pillar of Ghana’s economy as it generated $11.6 billion in gold revenue in 2024, 56.3% of total receipts, with small-scale mining alone accounting for $4.6 billion, 22% of the total.
