Government ministry overseeing mining regulation and land administration, currently tackling illegal mining and proposing decentralization of licensing approvals to districts.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has refuted claims that some National Security operatives were involved in illegal mining activities along the Ankobra River. …
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening enforcement in the fight against illegal mining following the arrest of four alleged national security operatives linked to galamsey activities. …
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has constituted a fact-finding team to investigate allegations linking some purported National Security operatives to illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, in parts of the country. …
… A statement issued by the Secretariat and shared by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said the task force encountered an active illegal mining site at about 3:25 p.m., where the suspects were allegedly operating with pump-action guns and machetes. …
… She commended the Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, traditional authorities, and all partners who made the initiative possible. …
… He further told the court that, had Akonta Mining assigned or transferred any mineral rights within the meaning of Section 14 of Act 703, such a transaction would have been formally documented in writing and submitted through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for prior …
… Adamus Resources and matters arising Meanwhile, the Chamber also addressed recent developments surrounding the revocation of mining leases held by Adamus Resources Limited by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. …
… The Blue Water Guards initiative, launched in 2025 under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Navy, aims to combat the destruction of rivers and streams caused by illegal mining activities popularly known as galam …
… The House said it maintains that the OASL, which currently operates as a separate and independent constitutional body should remain as such under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. …
… According to the House, the OASL should remain an independent constitutional body under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, arguing that its establishment under the 1992 Constitution was intentional and necessary for the effective management of stool land revenue. …
Global (Ghana) Ore Industries Ltd has received official approval to operate the Aboso-Bompieso Mine as a large-scale mining company in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, following a lease transfer from Adudanfed Company Limited on 3 January 2025. The company pledges to create employment opportunities and pursue infrastructure development and local content participation in the host communities.
Global (Ghana) Ore Industries Ltd has received official approval to operate the Aboso-Bompieso Mine as a large-scale mining company in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, following a lease transfer from Adudanfed Company Limited on 3 January 2025. The company pledges to create employment opportunities and pursue infrastructure development and local content participation in the host communities.
The Ghana First Alliance staged a protest in Accra demanding the government not renew the mining licence of Gold Fields, a South African-owned mining company. The demonstration, linked to recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa against Ghanaian businesses, calls for the contract to be terminated and mining concessions handed to Ghanaian operators.
The CEO of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation defended the Lands Commission's decision to gazette 5,000 hectares for the Petroleum Hub project, stating it was based on a written directive from President John Dramani Mahama following his announcement to the Western Regional House of Chiefs on July 30, 2025.
Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has submitted a new mining bill to Cabinet that would transfer licensing approval powers from central agencies like the EPA and Minerals Commission to newly established District Mining Committees, giving local communities greater involvement in mining governance and licensing decisions.
A delegation of Western Nzema traditional leaders, led by Paramount Chief Awulae Kwasi Amakyi III, met with Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah to discuss development issues in the Jomoro Municipality and to support the government's efforts against illegal mining and environmental degradation.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is replacing illegal mining operations in the Ellembelle District with a Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme, aimed at reducing illegal mining's harm to communities and water bodies while helping youth transition to responsible, sustainable livelihoods. Small-scale miners are also developing the Anwiah Teleko Bokazo Responsible Cooperative Mining site on an abandoned pit, with government support.
Host communities in Tarkwa—Abekoase, Tebe, Huniso, and Pepesa—are appealing to government to renew Gold Fields Ghana Limited's mining lease, citing infrastructure projects, scholarships, and job creation for local youth. Community leaders warn that contract termination would cause massive unemployment and negatively impact area development, and they urge government to separate the lease decision from ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Residents of several farming communities in Sunyani Municipality say illegal galamsey operators are moving into their areas with armed force and heavy equipment, threatening cocoa and cashew farms. More than 500 farmers have appealed to security agencies for immediate action and say they are prepared to resist what they describe as attempts by "powerful people" to seize their farmlands.
Ghana Gold Board CEO Sammy Gyamfi announced procurement of 10 high-tech speedboats for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operational Secretariat to protect river bodies from illegal mining operations, which he described as a grave environmental threat. The initiative builds on earlier support including five pick-up vehicles and GH¢5 million provided to the task force last year.
The Oda Forest Reserve in Bekwai, Ashanti Region, is being devastated by illegal logging, unregulated mining, and encroachment, transforming dense forest into barren landscapes with mining pits and polluted streams. Chiefs and residents are calling for immediate government intervention to prevent irreversible environmental damage.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has rejected claims that National Security operatives aided illegal mining on the Ankobra River, describing the allegations made by arrested suspects as "completely false, misleading and without any merit." The Ministry said preliminary investigations found the claims to be untrue and noted that illegal miners often make baseless accusations against state institutions to evade accountability.
The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law against illegal mining, warning that four security operatives arrested in connection with galamsey activities will face full legal consequences if the allegations are proven.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has constituted a fact-finding team to investigate allegations linking purported National Security operatives to illegal mining activities following the arrest of four armed illegal miners at Dominase in May, during which the suspects claimed they were acting under the direction of individuals identified as "Ras", "Mambo" and "Nana Teku". The ministry spokesperson said the investigation was prompted by concerns that some NAIMOS operations were allegedly being undermined by persons believed affiliated with National Security.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat arrested four suspected armed illegal miners at Dominase in the Nzema East Municipality during a patrol along the Ankobra River on May 20, 2026. The suspects resisted arrest and were found operating with pump-action guns and machetes at an active galamsey site.
The Forestry Commission has handed over 10 forest protection camps and two checkpoints to strengthen the fight against illegal mining, logging and other forest crimes. The handover took place under the UK-Ghana Forest Governance Partnership.
The former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources testified in the High Court that land reclamation on mining concessions constitutes mine support services, which are legally distinct from the assignment or transfer of mineral rights and do not require the same level of ministerial approval under Ghana's Minerals and Mining Act. This testimony formed part of the defence case for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has defended Gold Fields' application to extend its Tarkwa mining lease, accusing the Institute of Economic Affairs of advancing "material factual inaccuracies" and warning that rejecting the renewal could weaken investor confidence and Ghana's competitive standing in mining.
The government has graduated another batch of Blue Water Guards at the Western Naval Command as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against illegal mining and protect water bodies. The initiative, launched in 2025, aims to train about 2,000 young people nationwide to monitor rivers, report illegal mining activities, and educate communities on environmental protection; 1,617 trained guards have already been deployed across eight regions.
The National House of Chiefs has rejected a Constitutional Review Committee recommendation to merge the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) with the Lands Commission, arguing that OASL should remain independent under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to ensure efficient management of stool land revenue and accountability.
The National House of Chiefs has rejected Constitutional Review Committee recommendations to merge the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands with the Lands Commission, arguing the OASL should remain independent to protect stool land revenues and support traditional authorities in land administration.
Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat arrested three Chinese nationals during a riverine operation targeting illegal mining along the Tano River in Amenfi West District on 14 May 2026. The suspects were found overseeing miners operating Changfan machines on floating platforms and were handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service.
The National House of Chiefs has rejected a Constitutional Review Committee recommendation to merge the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) with the Lands Commission, arguing that OASL should remain independent because it was created to improve management of stool land revenue, ensure transparency and accountability, and protect traditional authorities' land interests — purposes that would be compromised under the Lands Commission.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat is donating 100 water pumps to the National Service Secretariat to support farming activities across the country. The donation ceremony was set for Tuesday at NAIMOS headquarters and will include discussions on collaboration in combating illegal mining.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and key state institutions have reconstituted an inter-agency committee to strengthen monitoring, verification and collection of mineral royalties and mining revenues. The committee, chaired by the acting commissioner of GRA's Domestic Tax Revenue Division, held its inaugural meeting in Accra on 8 May 2026 to address gaps created during institutional transitions and tackle issues like undeclared production and royalty leakages.
The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has reconstituted an inter-agency committee comprising representatives from Ghana's extractive sector institutions to strengthen monitoring, verification and collection of mineral royalties and mining revenues. The committee, chaired by the Acting Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, held its inaugural meeting on 8 May 2026, focusing on restoring coordination and addressing concerns including undeclared production, royalty leakages and weak regulatory oversight.
Ghana's Minerals Income Investment Fund has reconstituted an inter-agency committee comprising representatives from state institutions including the Ghana Revenue Authority, Minerals Commission, and others to strengthen monitoring, verification and collection of mineral royalties and mining-related revenues. The committee, chaired by the GRA's Acting Commissioner of Domestic Tax Revenue, held its inaugural meeting on 8 May 2026 and aims to address coordination gaps, undeclared production, royalty leakages and weak regulatory oversight in the mining sector.
An Interim Management Committee appointed by government to oversee ADAMUS Resources Limited, a gold prospecting company in Ellembelle District, called on the Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Council. The visit followed the government's revocation of three mining leases held by ADAMUS Resources after the Minerals Commission found the company had breached mining laws by releasing its concession to a foreign company allegedly engaged in illegal mining.
The Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action held a high-level gathering in Accra with diplomats, government officials, academics, and development partners to advance nature-based climate solutions across the continent. The Global Lead emphasized that despite Africa's minimal contribution to global emissions, it faces severe climate impacts and possesses rich natural assets including forests and wetlands that should anchor the continent's climate strategy.
Gold Fields CEO Mike Fraser has declared the company will pursue a lease extension for its Tarkwa mine, which expires in April 2027, signalling a major long-term investment plan. The company submitted an application in November seeking an extension of at least another 20 years and plans substantial reinvestment including equipment acquisition and expanded capacity.
A major stakeholder consultation held at Osino-Saman in Fanteakwa South District, organised under the EU-supported BRACE programme in collaboration with the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, brought together community members, traditional authorities, environmental advocates, and state regulatory agencies to address ecological threats to the Atewa enclave, particularly from illegal mining and unsustainable extractive activities.