Forming part of a move set to shake the foundations of Ghana’s lucrative yet controversial small-scale mining sector, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has inaugurated a powerful Nine-Member Review Committee to conduct a full-scale audit of all small-scale mining licenses across the country.
The bold initiative, seen by many as a critical test of the government’s political will to clean up the sector, is being led by Deputy Minister Sulemana Yusif.
The committee is tasked with scrutinizing every aspect of license issuance and compliance—including due process in acquisition, adherence to environmental standards, and full payment of permitting fees.
“Your work will expose irregularities in the licensing regime, help restore confidence and ensure optimum benefits from the sector,” Mr. Buah declared at the inauguration ceremony in Accra.
The announcement signals a clear policy shift aimed at combating growing concerns over illegal mining, environmental degradation, and alleged political interference in the distribution of mining licenses. With the 2024 general elections still fresh in the minds of the electorate, critics have questioned whether past governments turned a blind eye to violations in exchange for political support from mining-dominated constituencies.
Chairman of the Committee, Sulemana Yusif, assured stakeholders of the committee’s commitment to fairness and transparency. “We recognize the trust placed in us and will ensure transparency to boost investor confidence,” he said, adding, “We assure the Minister of a rigorous and impartial review within the two-month deadline.”
The committee brings together technical and legal heavyweights from key national institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission, Forestry Commission, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Association of Small-Scale Miners, and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
According to the Ministry, the committee will prioritize environmental compliance, particularly activities near water bodies, forest reserves, and lands prone to degradation—areas long exploited under politically-protected mining operations.
This development comes at a politically sensitive time, as accusations of corruption and cronyism within the natural resources sector continue to mount. With the final report expected by June 2025, many see this effort as a make-or-break moment for the Buah-led Ministry to assert control and reclaim the public’s trust in a sector often plagued by controversy.
The government has already begun facing questions on whether the audit will lead to criminal prosecutions or be another political smokescreen. But Mr. Buah’s charge to the committee—and Yusif’s unflinching tone—suggest a serious intent.
