Lands Minister changing face of mining industry - Zambaga

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, is changing the face of Ghana’s mining industry, Director of Communications at the Ministry, Zambaga Rufai Saminu, has said.

Saminu, speaking in an interview with Daniel Kaku, said the Ministry was undertaking major reforms to transform Ghana’s mining industry through new laws and policy reforms.

He said although pockets of illegal mining activities still lingered, the Ministry was changing the narrative.

“The objective is to strengthen regulations, improve governance of mineral resources and ensure greater national benefit from mining,” he said.

Saminu said the Ministry, through the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), continued to intensify operations against illegal mining and protect Ghana’s rivers, forests and mineral resources.

He said the Ministry had adopted a broader approach that combines enforcement, reclamation, alternative livelihoods and regulatory reforms.

According to him, significant land reclamation exercises were underway, with the government undertaking substantial reclamation of degraded mining areas, including 320 hectares at Manso Nyankomanse in the Ashanti Region and 960 acres across the country.

Saminu said the Strategic Land Administration Reform Project (SLARP) had been launched to modernise and decentralise land administration.

“The reforms include digitisation of the Lands Commission, systematic land titling, establishment of a national cadastre, boundary demarcation and strengthening of customary land secretariats,” he stated.

He said a 20-member Greater Accra Public Lands Protection Taskforce was also inaugurated in June 2026 to decisively deal with state land grabbing.

On forestry, Saminu said the government planted approximately 31 million seedlings in 2025, restoring about 23,600 hectares of degraded land under the Tree for Life Restoration Initiative, with a further target of 30 million seedlings currently being planted nationwide.

He said Cabinet had revoked the Executive Instruments that altered the status of the Achimota Forest, restoring it fully as a forest reserve.

“You cannot fight and defeat illegal mining if you are not offering alternatives. That is why the expansion of responsible small-scale mining is underway,” he said.

He said the government continued to support responsible small-scale mining while strengthening efforts to curb illegal gold trading.

He noted that the World Gold Council had committed an initial US$250,000 grant as part of a broader US$1 million support package for responsible artisanal and small-scale mining training.

Saminu said the government had set up a six-member committee to engage investors to support the revival and transformation of the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO).

He said construction of the third and final phase of the Appiatse Redevelopment Project was scheduled to commence by mid-September 2026 to facilitate the resettlement of the remaining 69 affected households.

He said the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands had mobilised GH¢265.61 million, representing about 75.48 per cent of its annual target of GH¢351.88 million, while also opening four new district offices.

“The first and second quarters of 2026 have been characterised by institutional reforms, stronger regulations, environmental restoration, improved land administration, responsible mining, forest protection and efforts to unlock the economic value of Ghana’s natural resources,” Saminu said.