The government of Ghana has cancelled 278 small-scale mining licenses across Ghana for violating state regulations and operating with expired permits.
The move was announced by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. In a Facebook post on Thursday, October 23, the Ministry Spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, stated the decision was a key part of the government’s intensified campaign to impose order and responsibility on the small-scale mining industry.
Schandorf clarified that the revoked licenses belonged to operators who neglected to comply with critical environmental and safety standards, or who continued their mining work after their legal authorization had lapsed.
This firm action underscores Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah’s commitment to enforcing discipline within the sector. It comes after years of growing state alarm over illegal mining, commonly called “galamsey,” and its devastating effects on Ghana’s natural environment and water resources. The mass cancellation marks a decisive shift towards a stricter regulatory approach, forming a core part of a wider strategy to ensure mining is both sustainable and ecologically sound.
Story By: Juliet Akosua Danquah
