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Mining Under the Microscope:Hon.Buah Unveils Audit Committee to Clean Up Large-Scale Operations
Ghana’s mining sector is set for a major shake-up as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), inaugurates a Large-Scale Mining Audit Committee to scrutinize and streamline the industry.
The initiative, according to the Minister, forms part of government’s broader plan to not only reform mining laws and policies but also strengthen the institutions that regulate them.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Buah noted that while progress had been made in addressing challenges in small-scale mining, attention must now turn to the large-scale sector, which has long been riddled with irregularities.
“This is a very critical area, and we must ensure that all irregularities and challenges are tackled head-on. On behalf of President Mahama, I urge you to work with us to sanitize the industry,” he said.
The Audit Committee has been tasked with reviewing exploration rights, land tenure agreements, environmental and social compliance, safety permits, resettlement approvals, and fiscal obligations, including royalties and taxes.
Hon. Buah also stressed that stakeholder engagement,often ignored in licensing processes,must now be treated as a fundamental requirement.
“Communities must be heard. How can they know what is happening when their voices are ignored? This is what the whole process is about,” he emphasized.
He expressed confidence that the committee will deliver on its mandate, adding that transforming the Minerals Commission is central to the government’s agenda.
“We are determined to completely transform the Minerals Commission, and this audit is the beginning of that transformation,” he declared.
With the new audit drive, the government hopes to close loopholes, restore accountability, and put Ghana’s mining sector on a path of transparency and sustainability.
