Ghana mining sector faces formalization push amid permit disputes

Ghana is navigating significant shifts in its mining and economic sectors. President John Mahama has commended the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) for increasing gold exports and foreign exchange earnings, noting that the sector brought in $10.8 billion in 2025. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has endorsed the administration's focus on domestic mineral processing to drive industrialization and reduce poverty.

However, the mining sector faces internal friction. The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has accused the government of fueling illegal mining, or ‘galamsey’, by maintaining a three-year freeze on legitimate mining permits. They argue that administrative bottlenecks force local miners into illegality while non-local entities secure permits.

In response to these challenges, the government has begun formalizing artisanal operations. In Ellembelle, five new legal mining cooperatives were launched to promote responsible practices and land reclamation. Meanwhile, economic experts like Professor Stephen Adei have warned that Ghana must leverage its recent economic stabilization to achieve structural transformation, noting that infrastructure deficits in power, water, and internet could hinder initiatives like the 24-hour economy.