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The Ghana Chamber of Mines has reaffirmed its support for licensed and regulated small-scale mining, in line with national laws. Speaking during the ‘Unearth Potential: The Future of Mining in West Africa’ webinar hosted by Creamer Media, Acting Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Nantogmah noted the importance of distinguishing between legitimate operators and illegal miners.
“We support small-scale mining that is legal and licensed, just as Ghana’s laws do,” said Nantogmah. However, he warned that illegal operations continue to undermine the sector and highlighted the importance of regulatory oversight and permitting to ensure legitimacy.
The Chamber’s stance is backed by its ongoing collaboration with the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners. This partnership has allowed the Chamber to extend its health and safety policies to the small-scale mining sector, a significant contributor to Ghana’s economy.
“We provide all the education and support we can. The small-scale mining sector employs a large number of people and contributes about 40% of Ghana’s gold exports,” said Nantogmah. However, he noted that illegal mining provides no direct benefit to the state, as royalties and taxes are not paid. To address this, he called for a structured, exploration-driven approach to small-scale mining.
“When proper exploration is conducted, specific areas can be accurately delineated for licensing, thereby expanding Ghana’s orebody knowledge and formalising the sector,” explained Nantogmah . He also underscored the need for policy certainty and investment security to support sustainable mining. He revealed that the Chamber is in discussions with the Ghana Geological Survey Authority and government authorities to remove value-added tax (VAT) on exploration activities, especially drilling.
“Eliminating VAT on exploration will stimulate investment and knowledge-sharing. This information can then be used by the government to allocate licences to regulated small-scale operators more effectively,” shared Nantogmah . With these measures, Nantogmah believes the small-scale sector could increase its contribution to Ghana’s gold output from 40% to at least 50%, while also improving adherence to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
When asked about building long-term trust with local communities, Nantogmah stressed that many mining companies already engage directly with communities and respond promptly to concerns. He added, “These companies are on the ground and are the first to see and respond to any issues that arise.” However, he acknowledged that frustration can arise when only a small portion of royalties return to local communities and even then, infrequently.
Despite this, communities still benefit from mine-driven infrastructure such as improved roads, schools, hospitals and retail facilities, which support both mine workers and local residents. Nantogmah concluded that a more consistent and transparent approach to revenue-sharing and community engagement is essential for building sustainable relationships and long-term social licence in Ghana’s mining sector.
