The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that Ghana will introduce a new mining law in 2026 aimed at strengthening regulation and ensuring responsible management of the country’s mineral resources.
Speaking during a meeting with officials from Ghana Water Limited (GWL) in Accra, the Minister revealed that work on the new legislation is almost complete, with about 90% of the drafting process concluded.
According to Mr. Buah, the new law is designed to modernize Ghana’s mining governance framework, promote sustainable practices, and address longstanding challenges such as illegal mining, environmental degradation, and the destruction of water bodies.
“We’re 90% complete with the law. My target is that by next year [2025], we will have a new law that will have key provisions,” the Minister stated.
He noted that one of the major concerns being addressed under the new framework is the issuance of mining licences, which he said, in the past, had not always served the national interest.
Mr. Buah explained that the current licensing system has in some cases contributed to unregulated operations and environmental destruction.
Mr. Buah emphasised that the new law will introduce stricter requirements for obtaining and maintaining mining licences, as well as stronger penalties for violations. It will also include provisions that enhance collaboration between regulatory bodies such as the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Ghana Water Limited to ensure better monitoring and enforcement.
The Minister assured stakeholders that the government remains committed to balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability and that the new legal framework will place Ghana’s mining sector on a path of transparency, accountability, and long-term national benefit.
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