Ghana Minerals Commission decentralizes oversight and pursues regulatory reforms

The Minerals Commission of Ghana has launched a regional office in Kumasi to decentralize licensing and oversight for the mining sector. The move aims to reduce the cost and time for mining companies and prospecting entities in the Ashanti Region by providing local access to regulatory services, rather than requiring travel to Accra.

In a separate diplomatic effort, Minerals Commission CEO Isaac Andrews Tandoh met with the British High Commission in Accra to discuss strengthening bilateral economic ties and promoting sustainable mineral investment. During these discussions, the Commission highlighted upcoming regulatory reforms, including a proposal to reduce mining lease tenures from 30 to 20 years to better safeguard national assets.

Ghana is also pursuing an industrialization agenda that aims to transition to exporting only refined gold by 2030. The government is emphasizing local content mandates and increased Ghanaian equity participation to ensure host communities and local businesses benefit from mineral extraction.