Mining in Motion: Ghana Unveils 5-Pillar Strategy to Transform the Mining Industry
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Ghana's Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, outlined a five-pillar strategy for the country's mining industry at the Mining in Motion 2025 summit. The strategy is aimed at reforming the sector while empowering artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) initiatives.
In a presentation during the opening of the summit, Minister Buah underscored how the strategy is designed to address illegal mining, which has significantly impacted the environment. Illegal mining occupies over 16% of the nation's forests, degrading more than 5,500 hectares. As such, the strategy seeks to address this issue by enhancing ASGM developments. ASGM operations have grown to account for 52.1% of Ghana's total gold exports in 2025, and the strategy aims to further optimize the industry's expansion.
'Of the $4 billion in goods shipped from Ghana in Q1, 2025, 52.1% is from artisanal and small-scale miners - hence the need to ensure that mining is done in a sustainable manner,' stated Minister Buah.
The first pillar of the strategy focuses on reforming the licensing regime. According to Minister Buah, the Ministry is currently overhauling the existing Minerals and Mining Act to attract new investments and bring in fresh ASGM players. This includes reviewing and restructuring licenses to ensure they align with Ghana's national development agenda.
'The strategy came into implementation four months ago and we want to ensure we do mining right,' stated Minister Buah.
The second pillar centers on enhancing law enforcement. The Ministry is collaborating with various government agencies to intensify the arrest and prosecution of those engaged in illegal mining. This includes the creation of an independent Anti-Illegal Mining Military Task Force and the reorganization of security operations at both district and community levels.
Environmental restoration is also a key priority. Under the third pillar, the Ministry has reclaimed eight out of nine forest reserves previously designated as red zones for illegal mining within just four months. Reforestation programs are now underway to restore these degraded areas and ensure long-term environmental sustainability.
The fourth pillar emphasizes stakeholder engagement and public education. The Ministry is working closely with traditional authorities, lawmakers, civil society organizations and the general public to promote sustainable practices and encourage collective responsibility in preserving Ghana's natural resources.
'Lack of jobs and skills has been the main cause of illegal mining and we are dealing with this directly by diversifying employment. We want to create over 150,000 new jobs,' stated Minister Buah.
The fifth pillar aims to provide alternative livelihoods and job opportunities, especially for youth and individuals previously involved in illegal mining. Through programs such as the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Program for Illegal Miners; the 1 Million Coders Program; and initiatives by the Youth Employment Agency, the government is offering skills training and employment placement. These efforts are designed to reduce reliance on illegal mining and diversify economic opportunities across the country.
The pillars will be achieved through various strategies such as the Ghana Gold Board, the Minerals Development Fund, the Minerals Income Investment Fund, Geofencing of Excavators, the Investment in Geological Investigations of Mineralized Areas, Small-Scale Mining Cooperatives, the Blue Water Initiative, the Tree for Life Initiative and the Anti-Illegal Mining Secretariat.
Organized by the Ashanti Green Initiative – led by Oheneba Kwaku Duah, Prince of Ghana's Ashanti Kingdom – in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, World Bank, and the World Gold Council, with the support of Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the summit offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with industry leaders.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
32 minutes ago
- Zawya
Iraq eyes mining sector to support economic diversification efforts
Iraq is planning to develop its untapped mining sector as part of its broader economic diversification strategy, a top government official said. Mudher Muhammad Saleh, financial advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) the government has signed memorandums of understanding with international companies to explore and develop key mineral resources, including phosphate, sulfpur, lithium, and copper He said the total value of Iraq's natural resources is estimated at more than $16 trillion, adding that the mining sector is expected to contribute at least 10 percent to Iraq's GDP during its initial development phase. Key mineral resources Phosphate: Iraq ranks second worldwide, holding over 10 billion tonnes of phosphate reserves, located mainly in the Akashat area of Anbar province. Sul ph ur: The Mishraq area in Nineveh Province is home to one of the world's largest free sulphur fields. Silica: Najaf and western Iraq have high-purity silica deposits. Iron, manganese, copper, and gold deposits in the Kurdistan Region, western Iraq, and central Iraq. Rare minerals in southern Iraq (Writing by Majda Muhsen; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Zawya
32 minutes ago
- Zawya
United States (U.S.) Embassy Monrovia Congratulates Liberia on Election to United Nations Security Council
The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia extends heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of Liberia on their election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term. This significant achievement reflects Liberia's enduring commitment to international peace and security, as well as its active participation in multilateral diplomacy. Liberia's election is a testament to its progress in democratic governance and its leadership role within the West African region. The United States looks forward to collaborating closely with Liberia during its tenure on the Security Council. Together, we aim to address global challenges and promote a more peaceful and secure world. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Liberia.
Zawya
32 minutes ago
- Zawya
Ukraine and Ghana Agreed to Develop Cooperation in Cybersecurity, Digitalization, and Information Technologies
Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, Anton Demokhin held an online meeting with the Minister for Communication, Information Technology, and Innovation of the Republic of Ghana, Samuel Nartey George. During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in expanding areas of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Ghana and outlined priority areas for collaboration in digitalization, digital transformation, innovation, cybersecurity, and combating cybercrime. The parties agreed to work in detail on relevant cooperation tracks between our countries, involving the respective government agencies. "The growing dynamic of Ukrainian-Ghanaian dialogue at the highest political level, as well as between our foreign ministers, clearly demonstrates the mutual interest of Ukraine and Ghana in developing broad bilateral cooperation. We commend Ghana's Digital Agenda as a timely step towards the global digital economy and believe that Ukrainian experience would support the initiatives on agenda", - emphasized the Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine. Anton Demokhin informed the Minister for Communications, Information Technology, and Innovation of the Republic of Ghana about Ukraine's experience in digitalization and digital transformation, innovation development, and the strengthening of cyber capabilities. Samuel Nartey George expressed Ghana's interest in learning from Ukraine's cybersecurity experience as well as in applying artificial intelligence technologies in public administration, establishing the institution of Chief Digital Transformation Officers (CDTOs), and improving digital literacy among the population. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also spoke about initiatives aimed at showcasing the potential of Ukraine's IT market and facilitating business connections with leading Ukrainian tech companies, including the Code-UA platform. Anton Demokhin emphasized the strong interest of Ukrainian IT companies in developing mutually beneficial cooperation with both the private and public sectors in Ghana. In this context, both sides agreed on the advisability of organizing a joint Ukrainian-Ghanaian IT Forum. During the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine thanked his counterpart for Ghana's principled position and participation in international efforts aimed at achieving a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. The negotiations continued the bilateral dialogue initiated on the sidelines of the Second Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building, held on May 13–14 in Geneva. Representatives of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine also participated in the meeting. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
