By Felix Cofie
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, has announced the revocation of more than 300 small-scale mining licences and sweeping reforms to Ghana’s mining laws as government pushes a bold local content agenda.
Delivering a keynote address at the Maiden Mining Local Content Summit at Planter’s Lodge in Takoradi, Mr. Tandoh said Ghana must decisively move from being a source of extraction to a nation of ownership and control in its mineral sector.
The two-day summit was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, traditional leaders led by Nana Kobina Nketsiah, Members of Parliament, diplomats, and key industry stakeholders.
“Seventy Years After Independence…”
Tracing Ghana’s mining history back to the pre-colonial Gold Coast era, Mr. Tandoh said the country must confront hard questions about its control over its own mineral wealth.
“Seventy years after Independence, we must ask ourselves whether we have truly taken ownership of our mineral resources,” he stated.
He lamented the persistent practice of foreign entities hiding behind Ghanaian fronts to secure mining rights—describing it as a major contributor to illegal mining, or galamsey.
“To our Ghanaian brothers and sisters who lend their names to such arrangements, you are not empowering yourselves; you are being used to disempower your own people,” he warned.
He further questioned why Ghanaians continue to hold minimal equity stakes in mining ventures on their own soil and why long-term leases—spanning up to 30 years—often fail to deliver meaningful benefits to host communities.
“Employment is not the same as ownership. Labour is not the same as control. Our people may be working in the mines, but do they own the mines?” he asked.
300 Fraudulent Licences Revoked
Mr. Tandoh revealed that under the leadership of Minister Armah-Kofi Buah, the Commission has revoked over 300 small-scale mining licences that were fraudulently acquired or improperly held.
He stressed that the exercise was conducted professionally and in accordance with due process.
In addition, District Mining Committees—long provided for in law but previously inactive—have now been operationalised to ensure local oversight before any licence is issued.
Major Legal Overhaul
The CEO disclosed that a comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the Minerals and Mining Policy 2014 has been completed.
Among the key reforms:
• Revocation of LI 2462, which previously permitted mining in forest reserves.
• Introduction of a new medium-scale licensing category to bridge the gap between small-scale and large-scale operations.
• Phasing out of development agreements, which he said had been abused by some companies.
• Proposed reforms to stability agreements.
• Introduction of a new royalty regime to allow the state to capture greater value during periods of high gold prices.
“This is not about punishing investors,” Mr. Tandoh explained. “It is about ensuring that when God blesses us with high prices, Ghanaians also share in that blessing.”
Local Content as a Strategic Imperative
The summit focused heavily on embedding local content requirements across the entire mining value chain—from procurement and employment to equity participation.
Mr. Tandoh said the Commission has reviewed the Act clause by clause to ensure that local content is no longer treated as a “compliance checkbox” but as a strategic imperative integrated into every mining agreement.
The reforms also introduce tougher in-country procurement requirements and stronger support mechanisms for Ghanaian firms seeking to compete at global standards.
“We Are Ready”
Addressing President Mahama directly, Mr. Tandoh declared the Commission’s readiness to enforce the new framework without fear or favour.
“We are ready to run with the President’s vision. We are ready to implement the reforms under the Minister’s leadership. We are ready to enforce the laws,” he said.
He added that the Commission would work closely with traditional leaders, civil society, and host communities to ensure mining delivers tangible development outcomes for those most affected.
At the same time, he issued a clear warning to those seeking to undermine the reforms through fronting, regulatory evasion, or exploitation of loopholes.
A Sector Future Generations Can Be Proud Of
The Maiden Mining Local Content Summit forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader Reset Agenda, which seeks to deepen Ghanaian ownership and participation in strategic sectors of the economy.
Mr. Tandoh concluded with a call for collective responsibility.
“Let us build a mining sector that our children will be proud of—not just for what we extracted, but for what we built. Not just for the wealth we took out, but for the capacity we left behind.”
The summit continues in Takoradi with technical sessions focused on financing, procurement reforms, joint ventures, and technology transfer aimed at strengthening Ghanaian participation across the mining value chain.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com