Minority to summon Lands Minister over claims of mining before licence approval

The Minority in Parliament is seeking to invite the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to Parliament to clarify reports that small-scale miners could be permitted to begin operations without licences and obtain the necessary authorisation afterwards. The caucus says the reported position, attributed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, raises concerns about the enforcement of mining regulations and the government’s approach to tackling illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced the proposed move during a Leaders’ Media Briefing on Tuesday, 3 November, insisting that the government must clarify whether miners could legally operate before obtaining the necessary authorisation. He said the Minority was concerned about reports suggesting that the Gold Board CEO had indicated that miners could begin operations without licences and subsequently regularise their activities. “We hear of a reported statement from the Gold Board CEO to the effect that miners can work without a licence and they can be regularised later. The Minority would want to summon the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to explain this,” he said. Mr Afenyo-Markin maintained that the country’s mining legislation clearly establishes the requirement for operators to obtain the necessary licences before undertaking mining activities. He cited Act 703, arguing that the law does not provide room for individuals to engage in mining without authorisation before seeking to regularise their operations. “Act 703 is clear: no licence, no mining. The Minerals and Mining Act 2026, Act 703, admits no exception, and register and regularise must never become an amnesty,” he stated. He warned that allowing mining activities to take place before the necessary licences are secured could weaken regulatory enforcement and create room for unauthorised operations to continue. The Minority Leader also raised concerns about the state of illegal mining under the current administration, claiming that the situation had deteriorated since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed office. “Illegal mining has gotten worse since the NDC assumed office. Today, other institutions have added their voice that indeed illegal mining is getting out of hand,” he said. He maintained that the reported position attributed to the Gold Board CEO made it necessary for the government to provide a clear explanation of its policy on the formalisation of small-scale mining. According to him, the process of registering and regularising miners must not be interpreted as permission to operate outside the country’s existing legal framework. The Minority intends to pursue the matter through Parliament, with Mr Afenyo-Markin insisting that the Lands Minister must account for the government’s position and explain how the reported approach aligns with the relevant mining laws. He further called for a united national response to illegal mining, stressing that environmental protection should not be treated as a partisan issue. “Our rivers and forests are not partisan. The Minority offers a bipartisan partnership in this hope,” he said. The proposed move comes amid ongoing national efforts to address galamsey, which continues to raise concerns over the pollution of water bodies, destruction of forest reserves and the environmental impact of unregulated mining activities. The parliamentary engagement, if pursued, would provide an opportunity for the Lands Minister to clarify the government’s position on the reported comments and explain the regulatory measures guiding the formalisation of small-scale mining operations. The caucus says it will continue to demand clarity and insist that the fight against illegal mining is supported by strict enforcement of the law.