55 mining licenses revoked, hundreds more face scrutiny – Kofi Buah

The government has revoked 55 small-scale mining licences and launched a sweeping review of hundreds more as part of ongoing efforts to clean up the country’s mining sector.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah made the disclosure on Wednesday, July 23, during a media briefing at the Government Accountability Series in Accra.

According to the Minister, a detailed review process uncovered significant irregularities in how some licenses were granted — particularly during a recent political transition.

“A total of 1,278 licences were looked at. Out of that number, 907 are currently under review for various compliance concerns. We’ve already revoked 55 that were clearly problematic,” Mr. Buah said.

He said some licences had incomplete documentation, while others bypassed critical approval stages. The Ministry, he added, is determined to ensure that only properly vetted operators are allowed to remain in business.

“These actions are necessary to restore order in the system. We are committed to a transparent, accountable and sustainable mining sector,” he stressed.

Mr. Buah further revealed that similar checks are being carried out on large-scale mining operations to ensure they are also complying with the law.

This exercise, he said, is not just about revoking licences, but also about enforcing responsible practices across the entire mining industry.

Ghana’s mining sector is a major contributor to the national economy, particularly through gold, manganese, bauxite, and diamond exports. It’s a significant source of foreign direct investment and employment, but faces challenges related to illegal mining and environmental concerns.

Key Aspects of Mining in Ghana:

Dominance of Gold: Gold mining is the most prominent activity, accounting for the majority of mineral revenue.

Other Minerals:Besides gold, Ghana also mines manganese, bauxite, and diamonds.

Industrial Minerals: The country also has deposits of iron ore, limestone, and other industrial minerals.

Lithium Discovery: Ghana has recently discovered commercial quantities of lithium and is working on developing its mining and processing.