By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that mining companies seeking concessions in Ghana will now be required to obtain formal recommendations and approval from host communities before their licence applications are considered by the relevant authorities.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during the Government Accountability Series in Accra.
The directive forms part of a sweeping, Cabinet-approved overhaul of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) aimed at addressing regulatory inefficiencies, decentralising oversight, and intensifying the national fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mr Buah said the government is moving away from a system in which licensing decisions are concentrated solely within the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with greater emphasis now being placed on the views of local communities.
Under the proposed legal framework, newly established District Mining Committees will serve as the primary gatekeepers in the licensing process.
No mining licence, whether for large-scale or small-scale operations, will be issued without a written recommendation from these local committees.
“Mining communities must derive tangible and sustainable benefits from our mineral resources,” Mr Buah said, adding that the Mineral Development Fund is expanding investments in local infrastructure, including water supply systems, schools and healthcare facilities.
The proposed amendments also introduce stricter requirements for mining companies.
The maximum duration of an initial mining lease will be reduced from 30 years to 20 years, while a single exploration licence will replace the existing reconnaissance permit and will be limited to five years.
The Minister also warned speculative investors against holding exploration licences without making meaningful progress.
“If, after five years, you have not undertaken the necessary work, we will take it back,” he said.
Under the proposed law, mining companies will also be required to sign legally binding Community Development Agreements with host communities to fund socio-economic development projects before operations begin.
The Bill is expected to be submitted to Parliament soon, with the government seeking its swift passage to strengthen regulation, improve environmental protection and restore confidence in Ghana’s mining sector.
