The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), has called for a stronger collaborative effort between large-scale mining firms and small-scale miners as part of a renewed national drive to make Ghana’s mining sector more inclusive and sustainable.
During a working visit on Monday, August 5, 2025, to the Tarkwa-based operations of Gold Fields Ghana and AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Mines in the Western Region, the Minister urged the two major mining giants to deepen their involvement in the development and support of small-scale mining within their host communities.
The Minister said, “I want to see large-scale mining companies nurturing small-scale miners in these areas,” noting that fostering such a relationship would represent a meaningful shift in the country’s mining narrative.
“This way, when we recount Ghana’s mining story, we can highlight tangible efforts to empower the small-scale sector.”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
Speaking at separate meetings with the management and technical teams of both companies, Hon. Buah emphasised the government’s vision of a more integrated mining ecosystem, where large-scale operators serve not only as extractive players but as developmental partners to smaller-scale miners.
He expressed his hope that such collaboration would yield lasting impact, both economically and socially, for communities that have long depended on mining.
The visits served a dual purpose. In addition to allowing the Minister to familiarise himself with ongoing mining operations at both sites, he also used the opportunity to extend a formal invitation to the upcoming launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP).
The initiative is the government’s flagship alternative livelihood programme designed to provide skills training, formalisation, and economic opportunities to small-scale miners, thereby reducing illegal mining and strengthening community resilience.
“I am impressed by the capacity and qualifications of the local employees here.
“This is what we mean when we speak of Ghanaians taking the commanding heights of the economy.”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
Mining Policy Review Nears
As part of broader sector reforms, the Minister also disclosed that government is currently nearing completion of a review of both the National Mining Policy and the Minerals and Mining Act.
According to him, about 85 percent of the review process has been completed. The aim, he explained, is to ensure that Ghana’s mining framework is forward-looking, inclusive, and better aligned with contemporary challenges such as environmental sustainability, local beneficiation, and community development.
During a brief media engagement following the company visits, Hon. Buah reiterated government’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth in the sector.
He underscored the importance of policy alignment and stakeholder cooperation, pointing out that the future of Ghana’s mining economy depends not only on resource extraction but on the quality of partnerships between state institutions, mining firms, and host communities.
He expressed optimism that the upcoming reforms and initiatives would position Ghana as a global model for sustainable and community-centred mining.
“We are charting a new path, one that recognises the vital contributions of every player in the mining value chain.
“This sector must be a vehicle for shared prosperity.”
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
The working visit was warmly received by company leadership, who pledged their continued support for the Ministry’s strategic direction.
Both Gold Fields and AngloGold Ashanti have previously indicated interest in expanding their social investment portfolios, and the rCOMSDEP initiative is likely to present new opportunities for collaboration in training, livelihoods, and formalised small-scale mining.
As Ghana deepens its efforts to reform the mining sector, stakeholders and observers alike will be watching closely to see how large-scale mining companies respond to the government’s renewed emphasis on local partnerships, regulatory reform, and inclusive growth.
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