The government has revoked all small-scale mining licences granted after December 7, 2024, due to procedural lapses in their issuance.

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Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the decision during a joint press briefing on March 19, 2025, emphasizing the need for regulatory compliance in the sector.

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“Now, we are going full steam ahead to revoke all licences based on the findings. Even all licences—it’s mostly licences that were issued from December 7—that is hereby revoked, whether you have EPA licences or not, because the finding is very clear. Those licences from December 7 were rushed. Review processes were not followed; the right things were not done,” Mr. Buah stated.

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The move follows recommendations from key regulatory institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Forestry Commission, and the Water Resources Commission. Authorities say the decision aligns with the government’s broader crackdown on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which has contributed to environmental degradation.

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Under Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which was passed in November 2022 during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, the government had the authority to issue mining licences in forest reserves. During his administration, over 2,100 mining-related permits were granted, including a sharp increase of 318 licences in the final week of his presidency. The law faced heavy criticism for allegedly facilitating environmental destruction tied to unregulated mining activities.

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With the revocation now in effect, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is expected to implement stricter measures to ensure that future mining permits adhere to due process and environmental guidelines.

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