As part of an ongoing national dialogue to modernize Ghana’s mining governance framework, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi (Esq.), led a high-level delegation to the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to engage in technical discussions on the review of the 2014 Mining Policy and proposed amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
The meeting, which brought together key personnel from both institutions, marked a crucial step in aligning mineral policy reforms with Ghana’s broader development strategy. It also underlines the importance of cross-agency collaboration in crafting effective, inclusive, and implementable policies for the country’s critical extractive sector.
The team was received by Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director General of the NDPC, and her technical team, who welcomed the initiative and affirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting policy coherence across the extractive and development planning sectors.
Dr. Amoah stressed the importance of harmonizing the revised mining policy with the NDPC’s policy framework guidelines. She recommended that the review committee ensure structural alignment with national planning prescriptions to enhance consistency, integration, and long-term impact.
“We strongly encourage the Minerals Commission to align the structure of the revised mining policy with our policy formulation guidelines.
“This will ensure that national planning objectives, especially in sustainability and development equity, are reflected in the mining sector.”
Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director General of the NDPC
A central outcome of the meeting was NDPC’s proposal to include a Strategic Implementation Plan and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework as part of the revised policy.
According to Dr. Amoah, these tools are necessary to ensure that the policy remains dynamic and adaptable to evolving economic and environmental realities.
“It is not enough to have a sound policy.
“We need clear implementation roadmaps and data-driven M&E mechanisms to provide feedback loops for improvement and legislative amendments.”
Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, Director General of the NDPC
The NDPC further indicated its willingness to collaborate in designing a performance tracking matrix that would monitor key outcomes in local content development, environmental management, fiscal transparency, and community engagement.
Mr. Ayisi was accompanied by a delegation from the Minerals Commission, including Board Chairman Mr. William Ntow Boahene (Esq.), Professor Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma, Technical Advisor to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Ms. Victoria Awuni, Deputy CEO in charge of Policy Planning, Mineral Titles and Local Content, and members of the Review Committee led by Mr. Benjamin Aryee, a former CEO of the Commission.
Minerals Commission Open to Collaboration
Mr. Ayisi expressed appreciation for the NDPC’s constructive input and acknowledged the strategic importance of linking mining policy to Ghana’s national development agenda.
“Our goal is to produce a policy that is both forward-looking and grounded in Ghana’s developmental realities.
“We welcome NDPC’s proposals and look forward to a continued exchange of ideas that will shape a resilient and inclusive mining sector.”
Mr. Martin Kwaku Ayisi (Esq.), CEO of the Minerals Commission
He also invited the NDPC to submit a formal memo detailing its recommendations within two weeks for the consideration of the Review Committee.
Both institutions concluded the engagement on a high note, with mutual commitments to deepening collaboration.
They agreed that future joint working sessions would help integrate key cross-sectoral issues such as climate adaptation, community development, and regional integration into the mining policy framework.
This collaboration comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to strengthen transparency, local beneficiation, and environmental governance in its natural resource management.
The Minerals Commission is expected to conclude stakeholder consultations over the coming months before submitting final proposals for legislative review and policy adoption.
The revised Minerals and Mining Act and the updated national mining policy are anticipated to address gaps related to enforcement, local participation, ESG standards, and emerging challenges such as artisanal mining and critical minerals development.
