Lands Minister inaugurates small-scale mining license review committee
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Wednesday (April 9) inaugurated a new Small-Scale Mining License Review Committee, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to regulate and enhance the mining industry.
The committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, the Attorney General’s Office, the Association of Small Scale Miners, and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
In his opening address, Minister Buah emphasized the importance of ensuring proper management of mining sites, highlighting the role of the committee in reviewing mining licenses to ensure they meet environmental, legal, and regulatory standards.
He stressed that the committee’s core task would be to audit all existing mining licenses, verifying that due process had been followed in acquiring them and that conditions for ongoing validity were met, especially with respect to environmental standards, forest reserves, and land preservation.
“The committee is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that permitting fees have been fully paid and that all conditions prescribed by the EPA, Minerals Commission, and Water Resources Commission are up to date,” said Buah. He further noted that the committee would be chaired by Honourable Youssef Suleiman, Member of Parliament for Bollywood, who would guide the review process.
The minister also made it clear that any small-scale mining companies that failed to cooperate with the review process would have their licenses revoked, sending a strong message that compliance with regulations was non-negotiable.
He underscored that the committee’s work was essential to improving the sector’s sustainability, assuring the committee that they would receive full support from the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Technology.
Armah-Kofi Buah also mentioned an ongoing initiative to categorize small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale mining activities into clear classifications to further streamline the sector.
This classification system is expected to help ensure more effective oversight and better management of mining operations across the country.
The committee was given a clear mandate: to complete the review process within two months, a timeframe that Armah-Kofi Buah acknowledged would be challenging due to the vast scope of the work ahead. “We recognize the scale of this task, but I am confident that, with your expertise and dedication, we will succeed,” he said.
In response, Deputy Lands Minister Sulemana Yusif , who doubles as the committee chairperson, expressed his gratitude to the minister for the trust placed in him and the committee.
He reassured the minister and the public that the committee’s goal was not to find fault or to conduct witch hunts, but to ensure that the mining licenses were valid, transparent, and aligned with the country’s regulations.
“Let it be known that this is not a fault-finding committee,” Yusif said. “We are here to do a diligent review and ensure that Ghanaian investors and the public can have confidence in the mining sector.” He emphasized that the committee was committed to transparency and fairness, welcoming anyone with concerns to approach them directly.
Yusif also addressed rumours circulating about previous committees, stressing that the current committee was independent and had not appointed any agents to act on its behalf. He urged all stakeholders to engage directly with the committee to resolve any issues or irregularities in the licensing process.
As the ceremony concluded, the minister encouraged the committee to quickly organize their work and begin the review process without delay. “There is no time to waste,” Armah-Kofi Buah said. “The work is urgent, and we expect results. You have two months, but with dedication and focus, I am confident you will complete this important task.”
