The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated a nine-member committee to conduct a comprehensive audit of all small-scale mining licenses in Ghana.
Chaired by Deputy Minister Sulemana Yusif, the committee’s mandate is to ensure that small-scale mining operations comply with legal, environmental, and financial regulations.
The committee will review key areas such as due process in license acquisition, adherence to environmental standards related to water bodies, forest reserves, and land preservation, as well as ensuring the full payment of permitting fees.
In his address during the inauguration, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized the committee’s crucial role in sanitizing the small-scale mining sector and ensuring sustainable benefits for the country.
“Your work will expose irregularities in the licensing regime, help restore confidence, and ensure optimum benefits from the sector,” he said, noting that the timeline of two months for the audit could be adjusted if necessary.
The committee’s chairman, Yusif Sulemana, in his acceptance speech, assured the Minister that the review would be rigorous and impartial, adhering to the two-month deadline.
“We recognize the trust placed in us and will ensure transparency to boost investor confidence,” he stated, urging license holders to fully cooperate with the audit process.
The committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, Office of the Attorney General, the Association of Small-Scale Miners, and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The committee is expected to submit its final report by June 2025, marking a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to regulate small-scale mining and combat illegal operations.