Small-scale miners have been given an extension by Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, to regularize their mining licenses. The new deadline is set for the end of August 2025.
This ruling comes after the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) filed a petition asking for more time to resolve issues found during the licensing procedure.
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Minister and the GNASSM leadership met and made the announcement of the prolongation.
Concerns raised by a recent audit that identified 902 small-scale mining licenses for a number of violations were the focus of the interaction.
Hon. Buah underlined how critical it is to address these problems as soon as possible while maintaining equity and openness. The Ministry has set up a special help desk with a three-person committee to help miners regularize their papers in order to streamline the procedure.
“This extension is a chance for cooperation between the Ministry, the Minerals Commission, and Miners to expedite the licensing process, rather than a punitive measure,” the Minister said.
Hon. Buah also reiterated the government’s dedication to the next Cooperative Mining Scheme, promising that it will be community-driven and have strict protections against meddling from the commercial sector or from politics.
He emphasized that openness, responsibility, and fair local benefits would be given top priority in the new paradigm.
GNASSM National Secretary Mr. Godwin Armah responded by applauding the Minister’s consultation approach and restating the Association’s dedication to working with the Government to support a small-scale mining industry that is both sustainable and consistent with the law.
Given that mining continues to be a vital component of Ghana’s economic growth, this cooperative endeavor represents a major step in the direction of a more accountable and well-regulated sector.
Source: newsthemegh.com