The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, has unveiled far-reaching changes designed to return control of Ghana’s mineral wealth to its citizens.
Among the boldest measures is the cancellation of more than 300 small-scale mining licences believed to have been obtained through fraudulent means or left inactive for years.
Mr Tandoh made the announcement at the maiden Mining Local Content Summit 2026 held in Takoradi — the first high-level technical platform focused solely on deepening Ghanaian involvement throughout the entire mining value chain.
Addressing participants, he questioned whether the country had truly asserted control over its mineral resources more than seven decades after independence, stressing that ownership must go beyond political sovereignty to economic participation.
For years, Ghana’s mining sector has operated largely as an extractive industry, with significant technical expertise, specialised services, and profits flowing outside the country. According to him, the new direction signals a clear break from that model.
The reforms aim to ensure that the billions of cedis spent each year on machinery, engineering services, logistics, and consultancy remain within the local economy, creating jobs, building capacity, and strengthening indigenous companies.
Industry analysts say the effectiveness of the reforms will depend heavily on consistent enforcement and strong political will, as authorities attempt to reshape the sector into one that generates long-term national prosperity rather than short-term extraction gains.
A key concern raised during his address was the growing practice of “fronting” — where foreign mining interests allegedly use Ghanaian nationals as figureheads to acquire licences while maintaining real control and profits behind the scenes.
Mr Tandoh condemned the practice as exploitative and linked it directly to the rise of illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey. He warned that some citizens were unknowingly undermining national interests by lending their names to such arrangements.
He revealed that under the policy leadership of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Commission has moved beyond administrative processes and intensified on-the-ground monitoring and enforcement over the past year.
He emphasised that the new strategy prioritises compliance inspections, licence audits, and stricter monitoring mechanisms to prevent abuse of the system and to protect Ghana’s mineral resources for future generations.
Mr Tandoh concluded by urging industry stakeholders, traditional authorities, and citizens to support the reforms, stressing that genuine local participation — not symbolic ownership — is the key to transforming Ghana’s mining industry into a pillar of sustainable national development.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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