Ghana announced it will decentralise mining permit processes by establishing District Offices to bring mining governance services closer to the people and tackle the challenges of illegal mining, known locally as "galamsey".
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah stated on Wednesday that the new District Offices will collaborate with the Minerals Commission to help mobilise citizen consensus on solutions to the challenges of illegal mining in Ghana.
“Indeed, decentralising the mining permitting processes will deter people from engaging in illegal mining activities,” Ghana News Agency quotes Minister Buah.
Ghana has also made amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and a review of the Minerals and Mining Policy (2014).
New licensing regime
Buah says the reforms aim to “strengthen local content and introduce a medium-scale licensing regime”. He emphasised that the efforts were essential to restoring Ghana’s land and water bodies.
Ghana Water Company Limited, in July, published high water toxicity levels, which are blamed on the activities of illegal miners.
President Mahama says the illegal gold mining industry has resulted in significant economic losses and environmental degradation for Ghana, Africa’s largest gold-producing country.
Huge protests broke out across the country last October against illegal gold mining after many rivers were polluted, becoming a political hot-button issue. Mahama, who won the December 2024 election, promised in his campaign to clamp down on the practice.
