Ing. Wisdom Edem Gomashie
Mining Consultant Ing. Wisdom Edem Gomashie has called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to immediately reverse the recent revocation of all small-scale mining licenses issued after December 7, 2024.
He argues that the decision is legally flawed and fails to address the root causes of illegal mining in Ghana.
According to Ing. Gomashie, the minister’s decision, based on recommendations from a technical committee chaired by Prof. Oteng Ababio, wrongly suggests that licenses issued in the final days of the previous administration are to blame for the worsening illegal mining situation.
However, he insists that illegal mining has been fuelled by broader systemic challenges, including poor regulation, encroachment on large-scale mining concessions, and lapses in enforcement.
He further points out that the revocation violates the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations 2012 (LI 2176), which clearly outlines specific conditions under which a small-scale mining license can be revoked.
These conditions include failure to pay taxes, insolvency, false statements during the application process, illegal mineral sales, or criminal convictions of the license holder. Ing. Gomashie argues that being granted a license after December 7, 2024, does not constitute a lawful reason for revocation.
Additionally, he questions whether the decision followed due process, noting that the Minerals Commission, which is the legally mandated body to oversee mining licenses, has not publicly endorsed the revocation. This, he warns, raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of the move and the possibility of political interference in the decision-making process.
Ing. Gomashie cautions that the revocation could have severe consequences, including potential legal action against the government by affected license holders, a setback in efforts to formalize small-scale mining, and the continued persistence of illegal mining activities.
As an alternative, he urges the government to conduct an urgent audit of the country’s mineral cadastral system to distinguish legitimate operators from illegal ones.
He also recommends strengthening regulatory institutions like the Minerals Commission and supporting the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) to help enforce compliance within the sector.
While acknowledging that illegal mining remains a major challenge, Ing. Gomashie insists that unlawful revocations and violations of due process will not solve the problem. He calls on the minister to adopt a more strategic, legally sound approach to reforming Ghana’s small-scale mining sector.
Rescind Revocation of Small (1) by Fred Dzakpata on Scribd
