Government establishes 18-member committee to review mining sector

The government has formed an 18-member committee to review the country’s mining licensing processes and recommend measures to protect the environment.

This multi-stakeholder committee is tasked with evaluating mining operations in forest reserves, identifying best industry practices, and proposing strategies to curb mining activities in river bodies. 

Additionally, the committee will develop a comprehensive approach to addressing mining-related challenges and suggest further improvements based on their findings.

Inauguration and Mandate

The committee was officially inaugurated in Accra by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, alongside the Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. Both ministers emphasized the need for the committee to work diligently in addressing environmental concerns associated with mining.

Committee Composition

Chaired by Professor Martin Oteng-Ababio of the University of Ghana’s Department of Geography and Resource Development, the committee consists of key stakeholders from government agencies, academia, and traditional leadership.

Representatives come from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST), the Attorney-General’s Office, and agencies such as the Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, Minerals Commission, and Water Resources Commission.

Additional members include officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Geological Survey Authority (GGSA), the Ghana Police Service, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the National House of Chiefs. Industry groups such as the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners are also represented.

Prominent figures on the committee include Dormaahene Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II and Martin Ayisi, Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission.

Call for Diligence

Minister Buah underscored the importance of the committee's work, highlighting the paradox of Ghana’s mining sector: while it significantly contributes to economic growth, it also brings about critical challenges such as illegal mining, environmental destruction, and pollution of water bodies.

He assured that as part of the government’s Reset Agenda, decisive steps would be taken to promote responsible mining and rehabilitate degraded forests and polluted water sources.

Dr. Muhammed, the Minister of MEST, urged committee members to see their task as laying the foundation for long-term environmental protection. He stressed that illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, is a complex national issue requiring collective effort.

Commitment to Change

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II reaffirmed the committee’s dedication to its mandate, assuring the ministers that it would work tirelessly to achieve meaningful outcomes. He also pledged the full support of the National House of Chiefs in the government’s efforts to combat environmental degradation.

The committee is expected to deliver actionable recommendations to reform the mining sector, ensuring sustainable and responsible practices for the nation's long-term benefit.