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Minerals Commission Engages the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) On Policy and Legal Reforms.
As part of the ongoing engagement on the review of Ghana’s 2014-Minerals & Mining Policy and the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), Minerals Commission at separate events, engaged with a cross section of members of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) at Eastern Premier Hotel in the Eastern Region and at the Golden Beam Hotel in the Ashanti Region.
The Minerals Commission is the government agency responsible for regulating the mining industry, promoting investments and providing policy advice on all matters relating to minerals and mining in Ghana. The Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) sub-sector provides over one million direct and indirect job opportunities for the people of Ghana. Also, the ASM sub-sector has over the last few years undergone significant transformation and in particular contributed greatly to gold production.
According to the Bank of Ghana and the GoldBod export figures for the first quarter, 2025, indicates the ASM sub-sector accounted for 52.1% of total gold exports from the country. Therefore, the Commission considers the ASM sub-sector critical for the development of the Ghanaian economy.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman for the occasion and Technical Advisor to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Prof Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma admonished the association to actively engaged the resource persons and carefully scrutinize the proposed amendments to help enrich the policy and the law to ensure it stands the test of time.
The first part of the program witnessed the presentation by Mr. Benjamin Aryee on the Draft Reviewed Policy Document, which is anchored on emerging global trends such as the issue of climate change and transition minerals, challenges arising from the implementation of the current mining policy over the last decade, and the new policies of government, highlighting the importance of small-scale mining to the economy of Ghana, among others.
The second part of the program witnessed the presentation on the proposed amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). This was led by the Manager responsible for legal, Mr. Josef Iroko.
During discussion, members of GNASSM expressed concerns over delays in the issuance of ASM licenses and appealed to the sector Minister to address the situation. In response, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Kuma informed the members of government’s priority to decentralize the processing and issuance of small-scale licenses at the District offices of the Commission. He said government has that as part of the major reforms of the sector.
The GNASSM members entreated Management of the Commission to provide clear qualification criteria for the intended mid-tier mining stream in the country. The miners emphasized the adoption of realistic policies to ensure that their members in good standing and with potential be upgraded to Medium Scale Mines as part of government’s priority. “With the advent of Medium Scale Mining, it is envisaged that mining bonds will be put into classes to enable our members comply with the requirements”, said by a miner.
The issue of support for women in mining was raised, highlighting the need to put in place provisions to deal with their concerns. They advocated for consideration of the Policy Review Committee for incentives to support the few women in the business of mining and to encourage other women into the industry.
Though within the purview of EPA, the miners raised concerns over the omnibus requirement for posting Reclamation Bonds for mining and called for reconsideration to vary same based on the size of concessions.
It emerged that legal backing for large scale mining lease holders to retain rights over their concessions, whilst their renewal applications are being considered, the ASSM mining lease holders often are vulnerable losing their concessions to some Chiefs as a result of delays in processing their renewal applications. This called for a proposal to incorporate amendments to grant ASSM lease holders equal rights, whilst their renewal applications are pending consideration.
GNASSM and its members in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions were encouraged to submit written proposals through their leadership for the consideration of the Mining Policy Review Committee.
The Committee is scheduled to engage with members of GNASSM in the Upper East, Upper West and Savanna Regions in Tamale. Also, those in the Central, Western North and Western Regions in Tarkwa.
In attendance were officials from the Commission, namely Mr. Nelson Ahedor, Director of Small-Scale & Industrial Minerals, Dr. Ahmed Tijani, Manager, Corporate Affairs & IT, Mr. Paul Dawson, Manager, Ashanti Region among others.
