Also known as: MinCom · The Minerals Commission
Minerals Commission — Ghana's mining regulator that issues, enforces, and terminates mining leases and licenses, currently managing disputes over unpaid fees and lease revocations.
News reports
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Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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Daily Guide
The Minerals Commission has defended its decision to terminate the mining lease and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, formerly Owere Mines, over the company’s failure to pay outstanding mineral right fees exceeding US$8.3 million. …
Minerals Commission Defends Northern Ashanti Mines Licence TerminationThe Ghanaian Times
Northern Ashanti Mines Limited (NAML) has challenged the Minerals Commission’s decision to revoke its mining lease and prospecting licence, accusing the commission of failing to follow due process and misrepresenting the company’s financial position and mining activities. …
Northern Ashanti Mines challenges Minerals Commission over lease revocationJoy Online
A former Chief Inspector of Mines with the Minerals Commission, Obiri Yeboah Twumasi, has urged the Commission to negotiate a payment plan with Northern Ashanti Mines over its alleged outstanding statutory fees rather than allow the dispute to escalate. …
Northern Ashanti Mines: Former chief inspector of mines urges Minerals Commission to negotiate over debtJoy Online
… Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Dr Manteaw was responding to the Minerals Commission’s claim that Northern Ashanti Mines owed more than US$8.38 million in statutory fees. …
Debt alone not enough to revoke Northern Ashanti Mines’ lease – Dr ManteawJoy Online
… He said he had examined documents relating to Northern Ashanti Mines, including permits issued by the Minerals Commission in 2026 authorising the company to continue its development activities. …
Kofi Bentil alleges politically connected persons are taking over Ghanaian-owned minesJoy Online
Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has accused the Minerals Commission of undermining Ghanaian-owned mining companies through what he describes as a questionable revocation of mining rights, urging the government to intervene and ensure that the law is respected. …
Kofi Bentil accuses Minerals Commission of undermining Ghanaian-owned minesJoy Online
Northern Ashanti Mines Limited (NAML) has challenged the Minerals Commission’s justification for taking over its Konongo premises, accusing the regulator of making false claims about its debt and mining activities. …
Northern Ashanti Mines challenges Minerals Commission over Konongo takeover, disputes $8.3m debtJoy Online
… According to the Minerals Commission, there are sixteen large-scale mining companies in the country. …
Assessing Ghana’s government policy on contract mining and local economic benefitsJoy Online
The Minerals Commission has defended its decision to terminate the mining leases and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, formerly Ower Mines, citing more than US$8.38 million in unpaid fees and alleged breaches of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). …
Minerals Commission defends termination of Northern Ashanti Mines’ licences over $8.38m debtJoy Online
… Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, also presented Ghana’s mining governance framework to the delegation. …
Malawi delegation studies Ghana’s mining reforms and responsible gold governanceThe Minerals Commission has terminated the mining lease and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited over unpaid mineral right fees exceeding US$8.3 million, saying the decision followed persistent breaches of Ghanaian law and was carried out in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act.
5 hours ago · Daily Guide →
The Minerals Commission has terminated the mining lease and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited over unpaid mineral right fees exceeding US$8.3 million, saying the decision followed persistent breaches of Ghanaian law and was carried out in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act.
5 hours ago · Daily Guide →
Northern Ashanti Mines Limited has challenged the Minerals Commission's decision to revoke its mining lease and prospecting licence, claiming the commission failed to follow due process, misrepresented the company's financial position, and did not give prior notice of alleged breaches before the revocation.
9 hours ago · The Ghanaian Times →
A former Chief Inspector of Mines has urged the Minerals Commission to negotiate a payment plan with Northern Ashanti Mines over alleged outstanding statutory fees rather than escalate the dispute, noting that the company is still in the pre-production phase and may lack sufficient cash flow to meet immediate financial obligations.
19 hours ago · Joy Online →
The Co-chair of Ghana's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative says outstanding statutory debt should not be grounds for revoking Northern Ashanti Mines' lease, arguing the government should negotiate payment arrangements instead and that keeping the business operational enables revenue generation to settle obligations.
19 hours ago · Joy Online →
Kofi Bentil of IMANI Africa alleges that politically connected individuals are taking over Ghanaian-owned mining companies, citing Northern Ashanti Mines and Adamus Mines as examples, without following due process. He argues the trend threatens local participation in the mining sector and claims the Minerals Commission failed to follow required procedures in revoking Northern Ashanti Mines' licence despite the company having invested over US$100 million.
19 hours ago · Joy Online →
Vice President of IMANI Africa Kofi Bentil has accused the Minerals Commission of undermining Ghanaian-owned mining companies through questionable revocation of mining rights, citing Northern Ashanti Mines, Adamus Resources, and Narawa Mines as examples. He argues the Commission's actions contradict Ghana's indigenisation policy and urged the government to intervene and ensure the law is respected.
20 hours ago · Joy Online →
Northern Ashanti Mines Limited has challenged the Minerals Commission's justification for taking over its Konongo premises, disputing claims of US$8.3 million in debt and accusing the regulator of acting in bad faith without proper notice of statutory breaches. The company says it has invested more than US$100 million in the mine since 2019 and received only a revocation letter without prior statutory notice as required by law.
28 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations require Ghanaian companies to conduct surface mining and hold at least 50 percent interest in underground mining partnerships. The policy is intended to create direct and indirect employment for skilled and unskilled Ghanaian workers in mining operations.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Minerals Commission has defended its termination of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited's mining leases and prospecting licences, citing more than US$8.38 million in unpaid Annual Mineral Right fees accumulated from 2010 to 2025 and alleged breaches of the Minerals and Mining Act. The company has challenged the termination in legal proceedings.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →
A Malawi delegation led by its Mining Minister met Ghana's Lands and Natural Resources Minister to learn from Ghana's experience in mining-sector reforms, focusing on responsible sourcing, artisanal mining, and mineral revenue management. Ghana's Lands Minister outlined ongoing reforms including clearer timelines for mining licences and involvement of district-level committees in assessing proposed concessions.
26 October 2026 · Joy Online →
A Joy Online analysis finds that the GoldBod CEO's reported proposal to allow registration of small-scale mining operations without a Minister's licence directly violates sections 9, 82, and 99 of Ghana's Minerals and Mining Act and its 2019 Amendment, which criminalize unlicensed mining with penalties of 10,000–15,000 penalty units and 15–25 years' imprisonment for Ghanaians.
25 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Northern Ashanti Mines Limited has filed an injunction application at Ghana's High Court to block a government takeover of its Konongo concession, citing about $110 million in committed expenditure at risk. The company, which alleges that Minerals Commission officials and military personnel visited the mine on October 22, 2026, and ordered evacuation, seeks to restrain the takeover until the court rules on the legality of the lease termination.
25 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has called on the Office of the Attorney-General to investigate the Ghana Gold Board CEO over statements it claims encouraged artisanal miners to operate without licences outside forest reserves and river bodies, arguing such remarks violate Ghana's mining laws and could undermine anti-galamsey efforts.
24 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Six large-scale mining firms in Ghana will compete in the 16th National Inter-Mines First Aid and Safety Competition on 24 October 2026 in Akyempim, hosted by Golden Star Wassa mine under the theme "Safety First, Safety Always".
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Mineworkers' Union has rejected the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources' claim of extensive consultations over government directives on contract mining, calling the assertion "factually inaccurate." The Union says it petitioned the Ministry in August over concerns that the Local Content Policy could expose mines and workers to exploitation and weaken labour protections, but no practical steps to address these concerns had been taken as of late October.
22 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Damang Gold Mine Limited's Community Relations Manager says the company's planned Western Region airport is expected to cost at least US$80 million, covering land preparation and construction of supporting infrastructure, though the final cost could exceed this estimate.
22 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Residents of Damang in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality have praised Damang Gold Mine Ltd for road construction and community developments since new management took over six months ago, while calling for increased employment opportunities for women and National Service personnel.
22 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Mechanical engineer Obed Asamoah says Damang Gold Mine can remain operational for at least 15 more years if it receives necessary investment, emphasizing that the transition to a new investor need not fundamentally change the mine's operations.
22 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Damang Gold Mine's Manager in charge of Mining says the company is actively mining at multiple pits, including Amoanda and Juno, with plans to extend to Rex pits, dismissing claims that operations rely solely on treating existing stockpiles.
22 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Narawa Company Limited has called for an independent investigation into an alleged armed takeover of its Osiem and Nsutam mining concessions, alleging that groups including Chinese nationals were mining under military protection, resulting in three deaths and 10 injuries between August and October 2026.
22 October 2026 · The Chronicle →
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced three measures to protect workers' wages, benefits and conditions of service as mining companies transition from owner mining to contract mining. The measures require the Minerals Commission to prevent deterioration in workers' employment conditions, harmonise remuneration across the mining industry value chain, and categorise eligible mining contractors according to their capacity.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The government has assured mineworkers that no employee should suffer a reduction in wages, benefits or conditions of service as mining companies transition from owner mining to contract mining. Workers employed by mining contractors must receive salaries, wages, allowances, benefits and other incentives equivalent to those enjoyed by owner mining workers performing comparable work.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's government has set November 30, 2026, as the deadline for the Minerals Commission to implement additional safeguards under the contract mining policy to protect workers' wages, benefits and conditions of service as mining companies transition from owner mining to contract mining.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The government has directed the Minerals Commission to ensure that workers in Ghana's mining industry do not suffer reductions in wages, benefits or conditions of service as mining companies transition from owner mining to contract mining. The Ministry said contract mining workers should enjoy salaries, wages, allowances, benefits and other incentives equivalent to those of owner mining workers performing comparable work before the transition.
21 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Minerals Commission terminated Narawa Limited's mining leases over the Nsutam and Osiem concessions after the company failed to pay outstanding annual mineral right fees of US$909,127.79 within the prescribed period. The Commission said the termination followed established legal procedures and that the mineral rights reverted to the State.
21 October 2026 · The Chronicle →
The Minerals Commission has denied allegations by Narawa Company Limited of unlawful termination of its Nsutam and Osiem mining leases, stating the termination followed the company's failure to pay $909,127.79 in annual mineral right fees owed to the state. The Commission says it issued notices to remedy the breach in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, and recommended termination to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on July 29, 2025, with ministerial approval on August 19, 2025, and formal notice issued on September 3, 2025.
20 October 2026 · Joy Online →
A Rocha Ghana's deputy national director has raised concerns over alleged widespread human rights abuses, environmental destruction and intimidation in mining-affected communities across Ghana, citing cases in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions where residents have lost farmlands, livelihoods and access to clean water, and those who challenged mining activities faced threats, harassment and violence.
19 October 2026 · The Chronicle →
Ghana's Lands Minister announced that District Mining Committees will issue mining licenses at the local level under the new Mining and Minerals Act, eliminating the need for applicants to travel to Accra. The move aims to formalize cooperative mining and replace illegal galamsey operations while requiring mining companies to sign Community Development Agreements with host communities.
19 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana has launched the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme in Nzema East Municipality to promote safer, more organised, and environmentally responsible small-scale mining. The programme aims to strengthen mining cooperatives, improve compliance with mining regulations, and protect water bodies, farmlands and vegetation from irresponsible mining.
16 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The government has launched the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) in Ahanta West and Mpohor Fiase to formalise small-scale mining, protect the environment, and ensure mining communities benefit from mineral resources. The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources stated the programme aims to provide miners a legitimate pathway to operate responsibly, with support from the Minerals Commission and EPA for registration and certification.
15 October 2026 · Joy Online →