You must get local approval before mining – chiefs and DCEs to have final say on licences, says Lands Minister

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, says government is restructuring the small-scale mining licence process, placing decision-making in the hands of district-level authorities and local communities.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, March 22, 2025, Mr Buah announced that new applicants for small-scale mining licences will now start the process at the district level, under the oversight of a newly formed District Community Mining Licensing Committee.

The committee will include representatives from the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission, the District Assembly, and traditional leaders.

“This is not business as usual,” Mr Buah said. “We are saying that if you want to mine, you must go to the district. The local committee must be involved, including the chiefs and the District Chief Executive. If they don’t agree, there is no licence.”

According to Mr Buah, the change is intended to address growing concerns that mining permits are often issued from Accra without the knowledge or input of communities directly affected by the activity leading to environmental destruction and conflict.

He said the shift is not meant to block small-scale mining but to bring accountability and give local communities a greater role in protecting their environment.

“This is about people taking ownership of what happens in their communities,” he said. “We want to clean up the system and get it right.”

Illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, continues to pose a serious threat to Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and farmland.

Despite efforts by successive governments including the deployment of the military and public education campaigns galamsey remains widespread in many parts of the country.

Mr Buah said the new district-level licensing system is one of several interventions aimed at addressing the problem in a more sustainable way.

“It’s not that we’re stopping small-scale mining,” he said. “We just want it done properly, with full knowledge and consent from those who live where the mining will take place.”