Minerals Commission boss reassigned to Lands Ministry - Report

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, has reportedly been reassigned to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, according to a 3news.com report on August 27, 2025.

Citing government sources, the report said the reasons for Ayisi’s reassignment have not been disclosed.

The reported reassignment comes on the back of months of mounting pressure on the government to remove him from his position at the Minerals Commission.

In April 2025, the National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Ghana (NCSSMAG), criticised the Commission’s leadership under Martin Ayisi, accusing it of failing to provide effective solutions to combat illegal mining, known as galamsey.

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The Association’s President, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, stated that the Commission’s “actions and inactions” had contributed to land and water degradation, urging reforms to bolster the government’s anti-galamsey campaign.

Meanwhile, it is unclear what specific role Martin Ayisi will assume at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources following his reassignment.

Martin Kwaku Ayisi is a Ghanaian lawyer with over 20 years of experience specialising in international environmental law, mining, energy, oil, and gas laws and policies.

He holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Public Administration from the University of Ghana, an LLM in Mineral and Policy from the University of Dundee, and an LLM in Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Law from the University of Calgary.

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Martin Ayisi is said to have been with the Minerals Commission of Ghana for much of his career, previously serving as a Senior Legal Officer.

He returned to the Commission in 2017 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Promotion and Development, appointed by then-Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration.

On March 21, 2021, Ayisi was appointed Acting CEO of the Minerals Commission, succeeding Addae Antwi-Boasiako, who proceeded on leave.

He later became the substantive CEO, a position he held until his reassignment to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on August 27, 2025.

GA/VPO

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