The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced a far-reaching legislative overhaul of Ghana’s mining laws.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House, the Minister revealed that the review of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the 2014 Minerals and Mining Policy, is now 85% complete.
Armah-Kofi Buah described the mining sector as “the lifeline for millions of Ghanaians,” noting that the country’s rich deposits of gold, diamonds, bauxite, iron, salt, and other minerals must be managed to benefit all citizens, especially communities that directly experience the impact of mining activities.
“Our natural resources are under unprecedented strain due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change. To fully harness the benefits of our mineral wealth, we must strengthen our laws to ensure equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” he stated.
Key Reforms in the Pipeline
As part of the legislative review, the government, through the Minerals Commission, is introducing several sweeping changes aimed at correcting long-standing imbalances and promoting responsible mining practices. Some of the key reforms include:
Time-bound Prospecting Licences: Reducing the duration for which prospecting licences are held, moving away from indefinite tenure to a clearly defined timeframe.
Limiting Mining Lease Periods: The maximum duration for mining leases will be cut from 30 years to a shorter, agreed-upon period.
Abolishing Development Agreements: In their place, Community Development Agreements (CDAs) will become mandatory, compelling mining companies to allocate a fixed percentage of their gross revenue to fund development projects in host communities.
Introduction of Medium-Scale Licences: A new three-tier mineral rights regime will include a specific category for medium-scale operations to ensure more tailored and inclusive licensing.
Revising Stability Agreements: The current 15-year cap for stability agreements will be reduced significantly or abolished, restricting them to only capital-intensive investments.
Conditional Licence Renewals: The automatic right to renew mineral rights will be scrapped when specified conditions are not met, tightening regulatory compliance.
Stakeholder-Driven Approach
The Lands Minister emphasized that the reforms are being developed through broad stakeholder engagement, including consultations with traditional leaders, civil society, industry players, and academic experts.
“Under the leadership of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we are correcting the imbalances of the past and securing a brighter future for all Ghanaians,” Buah affirmed.
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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