By Francis Ntow, GNA
Accra, June 8, GNA – Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has announced that the government will end the long-standing practice of unlimited years of renewals of mining concessions to companies.
The move is to break the cycle of speculative land-holding that has stifled active mineral exploration across the country, a system he described as deeply problematic and counterproductive to the nation’s development aspirations.
Mr Buah said this at the 98th Ghana Chamber of Mines Annual General Meeting in Accra at the weekend.
Under the existing framework, some concession holders had retained their licenses for as long as 25 to 30 years without any meaningful exploration or investment activity, he said.
“Some people have concessions for 30 years and they are simply renewing their permits indefinitely while waiting for foreign investors from heaven to come and fund operations,” the Minister said, noting that such abuse would soon be stopped by the Government.
He explained that the current model was unfavourably, compared with the oil and gas industry, where renewal applicants were required to prove progress against previously stated work programmes and financial commitments before additional time was granted.
Mr Buah stated that a new law, currently before Cabinet and heading to Parliament, would stop holders from keeping concessions indefinitely while waiting for foreign investors, with strict accountability requirements.
“We will first give you three years, and you will come for renewal for two years and another two years [making] seven years… All we have to do is to look at what you have done in meeting all the obligations and commitments. If you don’t find the gold, give it to another person,” he said.
“If a concession holder fails to meet their obligations within the stipulated timeframe, the license would be revoked and reassigned to another operator willing to actively develop the asset.”
He indicated that the reforms were not arbitrary but had been developed through extensive stakeholder consultation, with supporting data and historical evidence shared openly with industry players before any policy changes were finalised.
The proposed changes, Mr Buah said, formed part of a broader overhaul of Ghana’s legal mining framework, including a review of the Minerals and Mining Act 703 and the National Mining Policy, both of which were currently before Cabinet and on their way to Parliament.
He expressed confidence that the revised legislation would improve regulatory efficiency, strengthen accountability, deepen environmental protection, and enhance Ghanaian participation in the mining sector.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring Ghana remained a competitive and attractive investment destination, arguing that the concession reform would bring clarity and discipline to the sector rather than discourage investment.
Industry stakeholders, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, and local communities would continue to be engaged throughout the legislative process to ensure the revised legal and policy framework reflects a broad national consensus, he assured.
He called for support from the Ghana Chamber of Mines in closing policy gaps and strengthening enforcement, describing the partnership between government and the mining industry as essential to building a responsible, resilient, and transformative sector for present and future generations.
On illegal mining, the Lands Minister declared that government’s fight against the menace “will not turn back,” vowing to address lapses ruthlessly while ensuring Ghanaians could mine “without destroying water bodies and environment.
The goal, he said, was not to fight Ghanaians but to ensure responsibility, saying; “we want everybody to do mining without destroying our water bodies and environment without killing all of us and even the future for our generations.”
He said the government was also tightening enforcement in the small-scale sector with strong regulation and enforcement, while implementing initiatives like the “Tree for Life,” to reclaim degraded lands.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Francis Ntow