Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has issued a 2-week ultimatum to 962 small-scale mining license holders to rectify irregularities in their permits. Failure to comply by August 4, 2025, will result in permanent revocation. The Minister’s warning follows a review of 1,278 licenses by a ministerial committee, which found 316 to be in good standing and 962 with serious issues, including documentation gaps and data inconsistencies.
The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to clamping down on illegal mining activities and preserving Ghana’s natural resources. He vowed to introduce reforms to the licensing regime to ensure transparency and accountability, with plans to review large-scale mining licenses soon.
The move aims to tighten regulatory oversight and combat illegal mining, which has caused significant environmental damage in parts of the country. The Minister will provide further details on the directive during the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on July 23, 2025.
