Accra: The government of Ghana is set to overhaul the country's mining policy with a focus on adopting a bottom-up approach in the licensing process to ensure order in the mining sector. This announcement was made by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who emphasized the government's commitment to fundamental reforms at the Minerals Commission. The reforms aim to align with President John Mahama's vision of resetting the nation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister revealed these plans during a staff durbar at the Minerals Commission headquarters in Accra. He issued a stern warning to those opposing the government's policy, stating, "Let me sound a word of caution, if you're not ready to align with government's policy and stand in our way, then you should start walking out right now." The Minister assured that there would be no witch-hunt, but obstacles to the government's agenda would be removed.
The Minister highlighted the overwhelming mandate given to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government by Ghanaians to reset the economy and emphasized that nothing would hinder this objective. During his first meeting with the Commission's staff, he stressed the importance of their collective efforts in ensuring the success of the nation's economic reset.
The Minister pointed out that while the Commission had made progress, significant reforms were needed to maximize the nation's benefits from its operations. He cited instances where licenses were issued for prospecting, but recipients engaged in environmentally destructive activities. Consequently, the government plans to shift from a top-down to a bottom-up licensing approach, involving local stakeholders in the decision-making process.
The proposed reforms aim to ensure responsible and sustainable mining practices, safeguarding the environment and local livelihoods. The Minister reiterated the government's resolve to sanitize the mining sector and called on the Commission's staff to align with the new policy direction.
Additionally, the Minister expressed the government's commitment to revamping the Ghana Geological Survey Authority for more efficient geological investigations. He indicated that the reforms would include sustainable mining as a key performance indicator for district chief executives nationwide.
Martin Ayisi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, noted that gold earnings accounted for US$11.5 billion of Ghana's export receipts in 2024, with US$4.6 billion from small-scale mining. Gold alone constituted 56.3 percent of the country's total export earnings.