Minerals Commission Partners with Quarry Operators to Strengthen Compliance and Protect Industrial Minerals

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In a decisive effort to sanitize operations within Ghana’s industrial minerals sector, the Minerals Commission convened a high-level meeting with the Commercial Quarry Operators Association to tackle encroachment, strengthen regulatory compliance, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.

The meeting, held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Commission’s Head Office, brought together regulators and industry stakeholders to foster collaboration and develop lasting solutions to challenges impeding growth of the quarry sub-sector.

Welcoming participants, Mr. Maxwell Yao Akpene Klu, Deputy CEO in charge of Small-Scale Mining and Industrial Minerals, emphasized the need for a unified and cooperative approach to advance the sector.

Setting the tone for discussions, Mr. Isaac Kuuwan Mwinbelle, Director, Industrial Minerals, raised concerns over production data integrity and operational safety. He underscored the importance of timely licence renewal processes, urging operators to submit reliable data and precise production returns. He also highlighted encroachment as a major challenge confronting operators and noted that several sites remain inactive due to encroachment, community land litigation, and health and safety issues.

The Commercial Quarry Operators Association presented a comprehensive list of challenges and actionable proposals:

• Encroachment – Operators called for granite deposits in the Country to be officially demarcated and reserved for quarry operations. They urged the Commission to issue a public notice warning unlawful settlers to relocate from such area.
• Land Pricing – Concerns were raised over exorbitant land prices set by landowners. The Association proposed compulsory government acquisition of buffer zones for quarrying, with operators paying the state for the buffer areas over the life of the quarry.
• Governance – Operators advocated for transforming the Association into a national body to enhance self-regulation, peer review, and accountability. They cited infractions such as misuse of waybills and failure to submit production returns, which contribute to under-reporting and revenue leakage.

The operators strongly recommended reserving quarry operations for Ghanaians, citing concerns over unauthorized foreign involvement. They urged the Commission to enforce local content regulations in the quarry sub-sector.

On community relations, Operators alleged that some traditional leaders are not receiving their due royalties from the Minerals Development Fund (MDF), causing mistrust and friction. They called for urgent resolution of these discrepancies to strengthen stakeholder relations.

The meeting resulted in several landmark recommendations intended to provide market stability and investor confidence. Key recommendations from the engagement included:

• Extension of Lease Terms – Increase from five (5) to ten (10) years for long-term investment certainty.
• Minimum Floor Pricing – Establishment of a minimum price for quarry products to ensure market stability and unfair competition amongst operators.
• Regulatory Consistency – Elimination of conflicting directives from state agencies.
• National Stakeholder Forum – Organize a national forum to discuss and find solutions to sector problems and raise public awareness of the industry’s economic significance.

In response, Mr. Mwinbelle acknowledged the concerns raised and commended the Association for presenting a unified front. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to resolving encroachment issues and operational bottlenecks affecting the sector.

The meeting concluded with a mutual pledge to expedite pending licences and resolve outstanding litigations issues, paving the way for a more structured, compliant, and profitable quarrying sub-sector in Ghana.

END.