Cabinet approves mining law amendment, limits leases to 20 years - Lands Minister

The government is seking to reduce the maximum duration of mining leases from 30 years to 20 years under proposed amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as part of efforts to ensure the country derives greater value from its mineral resources.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that Cabinet has approved the proposed amendments, which will be submitted to Parliament for consideration.

He said the reforms are aimed at strengthening governance in the mining sector while increasing benefits for host communities.

Under the current law, mining companies may be granted an initial lease of up to 30 years, with the option of renewing it for an additional 30 years.

The proposed amendment seeks to reduce the maximum lease period to 20 years.

The Minister also revealed plans to introduce mandatory Community Development Agreements, requiring mining companies to negotiate development commitments directly with the communities in which they operate.

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He explained that the new requirement is intended to address longstanding concerns from mining communities over inadequate development and limited benefits from mining activities.

“There are always communities that complain about development. Every mining lease will now include a Community Development Agreement signed between the mining company and the community,” he said.

According to the Minister, the new framework will replace the current practice where mining companies independently decide the type of support they provide to host communities.

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“It is no longer going to be the choice of a mining company to decide, ‘I’ll give them some water.’ Communities will negotiate their priority needs as part of the mining agreement, and those commitments will be agreed upon by both the company and the community,” he added.

The Minister said the proposed amendments form part of broader reforms designed to improve transparency, strengthen regulation and ensure that communities directly affected by mining operations receive more tangible development benefits.

DR/MA