The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to reconsider the two-week ultimatum issued regarding their licenses.

The order concerning the revocation of licences came after the Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, announced at a press conference in Accra on Monday, July 21, that, following an audit report, small-scale operators have until August 4 this year to address irregularities in their licences or face permanent revocation.

“Operators must regularise their status by August 4, 2025, or face permanent licence cancellation. We will not tolerate breaches of mining regulations.”

The report released by the ministerial committee suggested that following the audit of 1,278 small-scale mining licences across Ghana, it was discovered that 962 licences had serious irregularities, including documentation gaps, procedural flaws, and data inconsistencies, hence the ultimatum issued.

However, in reaction to this, GNASSM has expressed concern about how news of the ultimatum was broken to them and the limited timeline given by the Ministry.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, General Secretary of the GNASSM, Godwin N. Armah, said the Association received the news in shock as members of the government’s committee on mining.

He said that at no point were they engaged, only to hear the news for the first time in a press conference.

“We were shocked. It was just yesterday that we heard about it in the media. As members of the government’s committee on mining, at no point were we told to bring our licences or that there would be such an ultimatum,” he said.

Mr. Armah said that even though there is a committee in charge of checking licences, small-scale miners thought that anyone with problems with their licence would be contacted personally after the committee finished its review.

However, despite the challenges miners face with license processing, the Ministry has come forward to issue an ultimatum at the least expected time.

He complained about the technical challenges that members of the association face when uploading the

licence data onto the Minerals Commission’s system.

He believes that the many small-scale mining companies whose licenses may have been found to have irregularities are likely to be victims of the Minerals Commission’s system malfunctions.

“The Minerals Card (M-card) system started in 2022. Many of the licences were uploaded, but there were serious challenges with the process. That is not the fault of the small-scale miners who went through the right procedures,” he explained.

The Minerals Card (M-card) system is a digital identification and compliance tool introduced by Ghana’s Minerals Commission to streamline the licensing and monitoring of small-scale miners. It’s part of broader reforms aimed at curbing illegal mining and improving transparency in the sector.

The M-card system was designed to validate licensed miners and prevent identity theft. It was also designed to track mining activities using GPS-enabled devices, monitor compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

It also supports field monitoring via mobile apps like the RD Quantum App, allowing officers to upload real-time data from mining sites directly into the MCAS.

In light of this, he stressed that these irregularities should not be used as the basis to revoke licences or prevent mining activities.

“It takes a long time to upload the M-cards, and the system itself has its technical problems. That doesn’t mean the miners are operating illegally,” he added.

Mr. Armah described the two-week ultimatum as unfair and called for proper engagement.

“The licensing process is already very difficult. There are many people currently going through the process or seeking reviews of their licences. To now give everyone a blanket two-week deadline is simply not fair,” he noted.

He called on the Ministry and the committee to open lines of communication and provide clear recommendations.

“We are ready to engage with the Ministry to find a way forward. "

Meanwhile, Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, also speaking on the same show, pinned down thoughts or assertions that may suggest that the ultimatum is set to punish small-scale miners.

According to her, they expect that the miners respond to the directive and act according however adding that the committee is likely to reconsider the timeline given if it becomes necessary.

“The goal is not to punish anyone. If there is a need to extend the deadline, the committee will consider it. But for now, we expect compliance with the directive,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the Lands Minister is taking stringent measures on licensing and mining, especially that of small-scale mining companies, given the devastation illegal mining activities called galamsey have caused the Ghanaian environment.

In collaboration with security agencies like the police and anti-galamsey task force, as well as the military, several arrests have been made.

Since the current administration assumed power, it has made at least 208 arrests in connection with illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, as of mid-July.

The arrests were made at galamsey hotspots such as Samreboi, Wassa Dunkwa, Akrokerri, and Diaso, where illegal mining has severely damaged water bodies and forest reserves.

From March to May, authorities arrested 208 suspects following a nationwide crackdown. They also seized 99 excavators.

On April 18, a joint raid by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission targeting illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining near Samreboi in the Western North Region was conducted.

The raid led to the arrest of 26 suspects, including 6 Chinese.

Also in June 2025, the Ghana Police Service carried out an operation that led to the arrest of 49 individuals involved in illegal mining across the Western, Ashanti, Central, and Eastern Regions.

The Western Central Regional Police Command made 19 arrests at Huniso, Wassa-Dadieso, and Wassa-Gyapa, the Ashanti South Regional Police Command made 9 arrests at Akrokerri, the Central North Regional Police Command made 10 arrests at Dunkwa-On-Offin and Diaso

Eastern South Regional Police Command also made 11 arrests along the Awin River and at Akyem Akwadum.

Despite the efforts made so far, many stakeholders still appear unsatisfied with the government’s interventions. UTAG recently warned the president to fulfil all promises to get rid of galamsey when he takes office.

They warned that “If concrete steps are not taken promptly, UTAG will not hesitate to activate all constitutionally permitted avenues—including industrial action—to demand the fulfilment of these national commitments.”

The government’s fight against illegal mining (also known as galamsey) is getting more challenging as illegal miners gear up to face off against anti-galamsey teams.

A Forestry Commission Rapid Response team comprising eight members narrowly escaped death on Saturday, June 28, after they were ambushed by about 20 fully armed illegal miners still operating within the Jimira Forest Reserve in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.

Reports indicate that officials of the team received intel that some illegal miners have begun operations in the reserve again, particularly Compartment 34 of the Jimira Forest Reserve (Bentiko-Pakyi portion).

Acting upon the news, they embarked on patrols only to be ambushed by some illegal miners who opened fire on them and blocked their entry into the forest with about three pickup trucks.

“We had made attempts on two occasions to clamp down on illegal miners at the said portion of the reserve but were prevented by armed thugs.”

“One of our officers who was seated at the front of one of our vehicles was hit with a machete several times by the thugs,” an officer with the team is quoted to have told JoyNews reporter Erastus Asare Donkor.