Ghana has launched a bold five-pillar strategy to reform its gold mining industry, aiming to stamp out illegal operations, support small-scale miners, and restore degraded lands.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah announced the initiative at the Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra, stating the country must urgently shift to a more sustainable, inclusive and law-abiding mining sector.
‘Of the $4bn in exports from Ghana in Q1 2025, 52.1 percent came from artisanal and small-scale miners,’ Buah said. ‘We have to make sure this is done the right way.’
Pillar 1: Reforming mining licences
The first part of the strategy aims to modernise Ghana’s licensing system. Reforms to the Minerals and Mining Act are underway to attract new investment while easing access for legitimate small-scale players.
‘We want to align our licence structure with Ghana’s national development goals,’ Buah said. ‘This is about bringing ASGM into the formal economy.’
Pillar 2: Cracking down on illegal mining
Illegal mining has wreaked havoc on Ghana’s environment, with over 5,500 hectares of forestland destroyed. The Ministry is launching an independent Anti-Illegal Mining Military Task Force, alongside new local security deployments, to track down and prosecute offenders.
‘Illegal mining currently threatens more than 16 percent of our forests,’ Buah warned. ‘That ends now.’
Pillar 3: Restoring degraded lands
Environmental restoration is already producing results. Eight out of nine forest reserves marked as illegal mining red zones have been reclaimed within four months, with reforestation efforts now in progress.
The Ministry is also introducing the Blue Water Initiative and Tree for Life programme to strengthen ecological recovery and long-term land use planning.
Pillar 4: Public awareness and partnerships
Buah said Ghana’s mining crisis cannot be solved without the active participation of communities. His Ministry is now working with chiefs, MPs, civil society and the public to promote sustainable mining and shared responsibility.
‘This isn’t just a regulatory issue — it’s a social one,’ he said.
Pillar 5: Jobs and skills, not galamsey
The final pillar addresses the root cause of illegal mining: unemployment. With programmes like the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Program, the 1 Million Coders Initiative, and support from the Youth Employment Agency, the government plans to generate more than 150,000 jobs.
‘Lack of work drives people to galamsey. We’re changing that,’ Buah said.
Institutional muscle behind the reforms
Ghana’s mining reset will be underpinned by key institutions, including the Ghana Gold Board, Minerals Development Fund, and Minerals Income Investment Fund. Technological tools like excavator geofencing and expanded geological mapping will also support enforcement and planning.
Summit signals shift in tone
The Mining in Motion 2025 summit, hosted by the Ashanti Green Initiative and spearheaded by Ashanti royal Oheneba Kwaku Duah on June 2, brought together stakeholders from the World Bank, World Gold Council, and key ministries.
The event spotlighted Ghana’s commitment to responsible mining and new partnerships for growth.
‘This five-pillar strategy is not just policy — it’s a lifeline,’ Buah said. ‘We’re building a mining sector that protects our forests, employs our youth, and strengthens our economy for the long haul.’
