New regulations governing the Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA) could improve small-scale miners’ access to reliable geological information and support more systematic mineral exploration.
The seven legislative instruments, which took effect on August 26, 2026, establish detailed rules for geological mapping, geoscientific information management, ground investigations and mineral resource exploration up to the pre-feasibility study stage.
The framework could help small-scale miners make better-informed exploration decisions by improving the availability and reliability of geological data. Its impact, however, will depend on effective implementation, coordination among regulatory institutions and miners’ access to relevant technical information and support.
The regulations were introduced under the Ghana Geological Survey Authority Act, 2016 (Act 928), ending a decade-long gap in the implementation of the law’s detailed regulatory framework.
The instruments cover large-scale geological maps, earthquake monitoring and seismic investigations, geological information and licensing agreements, ground investigations, geoscientific standards and codes of practice, geoheritage conservation, and mineral resource exploration.
The Director-General of the GGSA, Dr Prosper Akaba, described the regulations as a turning point for an institution whose work supports mineral development, environmental protection, land-use planning and public safety.
He commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for his role in advancing the regulatory process.
The GGSA worked with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and other stakeholders to develop the instruments and bring them into force.
The regulations are also expected to strengthen the consistency of geological investigations and provide a clearer basis for the Authority to conduct research, manage geoscientific data and advise government and industry.
Established in 1913 as the Gold Coast Geological Survey, the institution became the Geological Survey Department in 1962 before being converted into the GGSA under Act 928 in 2016.
Credit: ChannelOne News
