Lands Minister Revokes All Small-Scale Mining Licenses Issued Post December 7

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has revoked all licenses for small-scale mining issued after December 7, 2024.

Speaking at a joint press briefing on March 19, 2025, he justified the revocation of the licenses stating that they were granted without due process.

The move aligns with government’s commitment to combat illegal mining, including stricter controls on excavator imports, a complete ban on the fabrication and importation of floating mining equipment, and other regulatory measures.

In Parliament on Tuesday, March 18 the Minority prevented the Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, from presenting Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which aims to revoke the President’s authority to approve mining in forest reserves.

Arguments between members from both sides delayed the laying of the L.I. before the House.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader insisted that the L.I. undergo a pre-laying process before being formally introduced, stressing the need for parliamentary procedures to be properly observed.

 

 

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“Mr Speaker I shall pray you to place the application on ice for now and rather direct that the minister goes through what has become a pre-laying ritual so that after that the laying is done,” he further stated.

Former Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor supported his leader stating “Mr Speaker I rise to support the position of the minority leader. Mr Speaker on the need for some pre-laying procedure…As we speak today mining is happening in almost all the forest reserves of this country…The pre-laying is necessary.

“It is necessary for us to be able to have a thorough in-depth interrogation and discussion as to how this can be formulated and resented in a manner which will truly oust the discretion of the president in granting rights for mining to take place.”

However, Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga argued that the L.I., a straightforward one-clause regulation need not that process as consensus had been achieved already.

He highlighted how significant the LI. would be in combating illegal mining, or galamsey, and fulfilling a key promise of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

Ayariga warned that further delays would hinder efforts to address environmental degradation caused by galamsey.

Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu in support of his leader’s argument, described the galamsey crisis as a national emergency requiring immediate action.

After intense debate, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor ruled that a three-day pre-laying process must be observed.

He directed the Subsidiary Legislation Committee to review the L.I. and report back by March 20.

 

 

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