Ghana Mining Review A reliable source of mining industry news in Ghana
Related Articles
Mining ministers from Ghana, Liberia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called for urgent reforms to Africa’s mining codes to drive equitable, sustainable development across the continent. Speaking at the Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra, the ministers emphasised that strengthened legal frameworks are essential to responsible governance, formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and the promotion of local value creation.
Ghana is spearheading several ambitious initiatives to modernise its mining laws. Among the proposed reforms is the introduction of a medium-scale mining category to bridge the gap between artisanal and large-scale operations. Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana highlighted the need to create an inclusive ecosystem that enables local ownership and provides access to sustainable technologies, financing and markets.
“We’re proposing a legal regime that allows indigenous people to own part of the business. We want miners to start small, adopt sustainable practices, and gradually move up to larger operations. It’s about creating an ecosystem of growth and accountability,” stated Sulemana. Liberia echoed Ghana’s inclusive approach.
Minister of Mines and Energy, Wilmot Paye reiterated that formalising ASM is central to Liberia’s national development agenda. “Small-scale mining is where hundreds of thousands of our people gets their livelihoods. To make the sector productive, we must simplify regulations and ensure intergovernmental coordination. We’re bringing miners to the table,” noted Paye.
Malawi’s Minister of Mining, Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma, focused on the importance of long-term planning. He explained that under Malawi’s Minerals and Mining Policy, the government is investing in human capital, infrastructure and technology to support sustainable mining. “We are building capacity and linking ASM miners to banks so they can grow their formal enterprises,” shared Ng’oma.
The DRC also affirmed its commitment to reforming ASM governance. Deputy Minister of Mines, Godard Motemona Gibolum underscored the importance of environmental protection and stronger oversight in ASM areas. “We have a new vision, one in which we are adding more value to minerals and providing jobs for the people of our country,” said Gibolum.
Ghana’s recent reforms were showcased during the panel session as a potential blueprint for other African countries. These include the Local Content and Policy Regulation, which mandates the use of Ghanaian goods, services and expertise in mining, the Equipment Tracking Regulations and the Blue Water Initiative, which aims to improve traceability, environmental standards and value addition.
The ministers agreed that Africa’s mineral wealth will only translate into broad-based benefits if underpinned by transparent, inclusive and environmentally sound governance. They stressed that policy reforms must be backed by capacity building, financial access and meaningful collaboration with communities.
