The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced plans to revoke the licenses of fifty large-scale mining companies following regulatory breaches.
The decision comes after a thorough review of large-scale mining operations conducted by a special committee appointed for the exercise.
At the directive of Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the committee has identified the first 50 companies with violations, including holding leases without valid Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) or Water Resources Commission (WRC) permits.
In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Public Affairs Directorate on December 23, the review was described as part of the government’s “multi-pronged strategy to deal with illegalities plaguing the mining sector.”
“The review exercise is designed to ensure that mining at all levels is conducted according to proper protocols and procedures, in line with the government’s vision of promoting safe, responsible, and sustainable mining,” the statement added.
The move follows a similar exercise targeting small-scale mining licenses, during which 278 licenses were previously revoked for various breaches.
The Ministry has affirmed its commitment to continuing such regulatory exercises to ensure the holistic sanitization of Ghana’s mining sector.
