Sea
Twenty-four civil society organisations and fisheries stakeholder groups have called on President John Dramani Mahama to revoke all offshore gold reconnaissance licences in Ghana’s waters, despite welcoming the government’s suspension of activities under the licences.
In an open letter dated October 13, 2026, the groups said the suspension was a necessary precautionary measure but argued that it should lead to the complete revocation of the licences held by GoldCoast GRC Ghana Limited.
They said the government’s review should assess whether offshore gold exploration and any eventual seabed mining activities are compatible with Ghana’s fisheries, food security, blue economy objectives and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The groups welcomed a Minerals Commission letter dated October 5, 2026, issued following a directive from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, requiring the immediate suspension of activities under the licences pending consultations and written ministerial authorisation for operations to resume.
They said the suspension provided an opportunity for a comprehensive review of the proposed activities, including their legality and potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.
According to the letter, the 10 offshore reconnaissance licences reportedly cover approximately 10,000 square kilometres of Ghana’s continental shelf, including waters important to fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
The groups said concerns raised by the Fisheries Commission about the implications for the marine environment, fishing activities and dependent communities reinforced the need for a precautionary approach.
They also raised legal questions under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, particularly Section 32(3), which they said prohibits reconnaissance licence holders from engaging in drilling or excavation, and Section 99(6), concerning the use of floating platforms or other equipment for mining or dredging in Ghana’s maritime zones.
They called for these provisions to be authoritatively examined before any decision is made on activities such as vibro-coring, bulk sampling, dredging or mineral extraction.
The groups further urged the government to assess the proposed activities against the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), including provisions relating to Ghana’s 12-nautical-mile Inshore Exclusion Zone.
They requested that the government maintain the suspension while publishing the licence instruments, coordinates, maps, work programmes and approvals associated with the 10 licences.
They also called for a comprehensive legal, environmental, fisheries and socio-economic review, supported by consultations with affected fishing communities, fish processors, traditional authorities, state institutions, academics and civil society organisations.
The letter said the final decision should prioritise the protection of marine biodiversity, fisheries resources, food security and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the ocean.
The signatories include the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, Environmental Justice Foundation, Hen Mpoano, Friends of the Nation, A Rocha Ghana, Oxfam, Oceana, the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council and the National Coalition on Mining, among other organisations.
The groups said the suspension should be followed by the complete revocation of the licences to prevent potential harm to Ghana’s marine environment and coastal communities.
