Gov’t disbands 26 Community Mining Schemes

The Government has officially disbanded all 26 Community Mining Schemes across the country with immediate effect.
This decision was announced by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, during a news briefing in Accra.
According to the Minister, the Community Mining Schemes were not fulfilling their intended purpose of benefiting local communities.
As a result, the government will replace them with Mining Cooperatives after thorough assessments and consultations with community members to ensure proper representation.

Findings of the working committee
The decision follows an interim report issued by an 18-member Working Committee established last month to review the current licensing regime and propose strategies to combat illegal mining. The Committee’s findings revealed that, contrary to expectations, the Community Mining Schemes had not served the interests of local communities.

Review of small-scale mining licenses
Additionally, the government has revoked all small-scale mining licenses granted after December 7, 2024, by the previous administration. In response, a Technical Small-Scale Mining Review Committee has been established to review and validate all existing small-scale mining licenses.
The review committee includes representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission, and the Attorney-General’s Office.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Yusif Sulemana, will chair the committee, with a director from the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology serving as the deputy chairperson.

Mandate of the technical review committee
The Minister emphasized that the existing licensing system is fraught with challenges, necessitating a thorough review.
The Committee is tasked with auditing all licenses to ensure they were lawfully acquired and meet requirements related to environmental protection, water body conservation, forest reserves, and land preservation standards.
Furthermore, the committee will verify that all necessary permitting fees have been fully paid. It has been given two months to complete its assessment and submit a report to the Ministry.
“All licensees are expected to cooperate and present their documentation for review within this period. Those who fail to comply will have their licenses revoked,” the Minister warned.

New classification for small-scale mining

In addition, the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources and Environment, Science, and Technology are collaborating to introduce a new classification system for small-scale mining operations.
This initiative aims to streamline the sector and ensure better regulation and environmental protection.