The battle against illegal mining activities in the country has taken a significant turn with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, issuing a stern warning of possible license revocation for 962 small scale mining operations.
In a bid to crack down on irregularities within the mining sector, Minister Kofi-Buah has set a two-week ultimatum, ending on August 4, for license holders to address the identified flaws. This directive comes following a comprehensive review by a specially constituted committee focusing on small scale mining licenses.
Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, disclosed that the committee presented its findings on the status of over 1,200 mining licenses to the Minister on Monday. Of these, only 316 licenses were found to be free of any irregularities.
The remaining 962 licenses, however, were flagged for various deficiencies including documentation discrepancies, procedural anomalies, and data quality issues. Minister Kofi-Buah emphasized that failure to rectify these irregularities within the stipulated timeframe would result in the immediate and permanent revocation of the licenses.
With a firm stance on enforcing regulations and preserving the environment, the Minister assured that stringent measures would be implemented to sanitize the mining sector. Plans are also underway to reform the licensing process as part of broader efforts to streamline mining activities nationwide.
Further clarity on the Minister’s directive is expected to be provided during the Government Accountability Series scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the Jubilee House in Accra.
In related developments, a comprehensive review of large scale mining licenses is set to commence to address irregularities within the sector as well.
Stay tuned to The New Republic for updates on this developing story and more on the government’s drive to combat illegal mining activities.
