The government is seeking to shorten the lifespan of mining licences and streamline exploration permits as part of proposed reforms aimed at making Ghana’s mineral sector more competitive, transparent and accessible to new investors.
Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Dr Yusif Sulemana, said the government plans to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), including reducing the maximum duration of mining leases from 30 years to 20 years.
The proposed reforms would also merge reconnaissance and prospecting licences into a single exploration licence, with the exploration period capped at five years.
Dr Sulemana said the changes are intended to prevent mineral concessions from being locked up for extended periods by companies that fail to advance exploration and mining activities, thereby limiting opportunities for other credible investors.
He made the disclosure at the commissioning of the new Ashanti Regional Office of the Minerals Commission in Kumasi.
“You have instances where companies will go in for reconnaissance for a very long time and then go back and take prospecting licences. Only God knows when they will finish,” he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, shortening and consolidating the licensing periods would improve efficiency in mineral administration and allow more investors to access concessions that may otherwise remain tied up for years.
He said the proposed amendments form part of a wider regulatory transformation designed to improve transparency, accountability and sustainable management of Ghana’s mineral resources.
Mining regulation moves closer to regions
The government is also decentralising the Minerals Commission’s operations as part of efforts to improve regulatory oversight outside Accra.
Dr Sulemana said the move would address decades of excessive centralisation by equipping regional offices with the personnel and operational capacity required to supervise mining activities more effectively.
The newly commissioned Ashanti Regional Office is expected to serve as a major regulatory hub for the Ashanti Region and parts of the middle belt, including the Bono and Ahafo regions.
He said locating the facility in Ashanti was strategic given the region’s long-standing contribution to Ghana’s mining industry, particularly gold production.
Minerals Commission unveils one-stop regulatory centre
Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Isaac Tandoh, described the new facility as a reflection of a new approach to mineral governance focused on accessibility, efficiency and transparency.
The seven-storey facility has been designed as a one-stop centre for mineral administration, bringing together administrative offices, technical departments, client services, records management and meeting facilities.
It also includes specialised laboratory facilities and a public education museum intended to improve stakeholder engagement and public understanding of the mining sector.
One of the key changes will be the decentralisation of the Inspectorate Division’s licensing examination services.
Mr Tandoh said moving the examinations from Accra to the regions would reduce the cost and inconvenience for applicants who previously had to travel to the capital to complete the licensing process.
The reforms and decentralisation programme are expected to make Ghana’s mineral regulatory system more responsive while creating greater opportunities for investment and improving oversight of mining operations.
The government believes the changes will help ensure that Ghana’s mineral resources are developed within a regulatory framework that delivers greater economic value while protecting environmental and community interests.
