The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP) has issued a strong call for urgent reforms in Ghana’s mining sector, warning that the country faces an environmental crisis if decisive action is not taken.
Speaking at a seminar with key mining stakeholders, the Minister highlighted the scale of destruction caused by irresponsible mining, including the loss of 44 forest reserves and over 5,500 hectares of forest cover.
“Our water bodies are at dangerous levels. Ghana Water is shutting down treatment plants because the water is too polluted to be treated. If we don’t act now, we may not have a country left,” he stated.
Hon. Buah further revealed that large-scale mining companies have held concessions for decades without developing them, while local communities remain excluded.
He announced plans underway to revise the Minerals and Mining Act (2006) and the Mining Policy (2014) to:
• Shift from a top-down to a grassroots licensing process, involving traditional authorities and local stakeholders.
• Introduce a medium-scale mining category to empower Ghanaian participation beyond small-scale operations.
• Prioritize Ghanaian ownership of mining concessions through a revised licensing and investment framework.
• Enforce community engagement and benefit-sharing agreements before mining licenses are issued.
• Reclaim abandoned and underutilized concessions for community-based mining.
Hon. Buah also highlighted the lack of geological data as a key driver of illegal mining and pledged increased support for the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to map mineral-rich areas.
He also expressed frustration over the unchecked importation and unregulated use of excavators in mining, disclosing that over 1,200 were recently identified in just three weeks. A new tracking system, in partnership with the DVLA, will monitor excavators from ports to their final destinations to prevent misuse.
The Lands Minister lamented the involvement of influential individuals in illegal mining operations and emphasized the need for accountability at all levels. “This fight is not just political; it is a national crisis, and we must act on behalf of future generations,” he stressed.
He concluded by calling on prosecutors, judges, and all stakeholders to stand united in the fight against illegal mining and environmental degradation.
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