Mineral resources must benefit host communities – Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has said Ghana’s mineral resources must benefit the local communities where they are exploited.

He said the outcome of mining activities across the country must consistently reflect in the development of host communities, as envisaged by residents.

He made the remarks when a delegation from the North East Region paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as part of efforts to streamline mining activities in the region.

The Minister described the purpose of the visit as timely, explaining that the issues raised formed part of ongoing government efforts to improve mineral resource governance in the country.

“Mineral resources must benefit the people there where the mining is taking place,” he remarked.

He said the government’s plans to introduce policies and programmes aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of mining in the country had been adequately captured in the reforms being introduced and implemented by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.

On the issue of 30-year prospecting licences, he said the current arrangement had to change to create space for better-prepared investors to participate in prospecting.

“That’s the new way forward,” he said.

He therefore lauded the initiative of the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, who sent the delegation, led by John Wuni Gruma, the first elder of the Nayiri’s Palace, to engage with the Ministry and the Minerals Commission on how to harness the mining potential of the area and properly position the North East Region as a minerals zone.

He said he would be pleased to see progress on the proposed collaboration.

“I pray that this discussion will lead to a long-term and lasting relationship,” he said.

“You want us to work together to make sure we formalise things. It’s something that the Ministry and the Minerals Commission welcome. We will look at what legally we can do,” he concluded.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, assured the delegation of the Commission’s commitment to unlocking the mining potential of the region.

He said he would spearhead the mapping of mineralised zones based on available data, as well as review the licensing regime.

He said the Commission would apply the regulations governing the sector to establish an appropriate working relationship with the North East Region.

“The Commission had already visited the specific area identified to engage stakeholders,” he said, describing the delegation’s visit as timely and appropriate.

In his remarks, the North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, who facilitated the courtesy call and engagement with the Ministry, said he had visited various mining sites in the region before the meeting to caution illegal mining operators against activities that undermined government policies and programmes for the development of the mining sector.

He assured the Lands Minister that the delegation would return to brief the Nayiri on the steps being taken to properly position mining in the North East Region.

“This is a dream that has come up several times, and we were just looking for this opportunity,” he said.

He added, “We would work strictly according to the guidelines.”

At the end of the meeting, Armah-Kofi Buah immediately constituted a working committee to facilitate the establishment of a new working relationship between the Ministry and the North East Region.

The committee will focus primarily on addressing illegal mining activities and attracting the right investment framework to the region to promote growth and development.

Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor
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