Ghana Moves To Set Minimum Wage And Tender Standards For Mining Contractors

By Zainab Ali

Ghana’s Minerals Commission is developing minimum wage and tender benchmarks for contract mining companies as authorities seek to prevent aggressive underbidding and protect the welfare of workers in the mining sector.

The initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader push to increase local participation in the mining industry while ensuring that the transition to contract mining does not result in poorer working conditions.

According to the Minerals Commission’s Director of Local Content, Ben Birch-Mensah, the regulator wants to establish a baseline below which contractors cannot pay their employees.

He said the objective was to ensure that workers were not disadvantaged as more mining operations are transferred to local contractors.

The Commission is also preparing minimum tender benchmarks aimed at preventing contractors from submitting bids that are too low to sustain their operations.

Concerns have emerged that aggressive underbidding can leave contractors struggling to cover operational costs, potentially affecting salaries, training and workplace safety.

Ghana introduced requirements in January 2025 for surface mining operations to transition to Ghanaian-owned contractors, while underground operations are expected to involve joint ventures with at least 50 per cent Ghanaian ownership.

The compliance deadline is December 2026.

However, some mining companies have raised concerns about making contract mining compulsory. The Ghana Chamber of Mines has argued that contract mining should remain optional, although it supports measures to prevent unhealthy underbidding.

The Chamber has warned that contractors who underbid heavily may lack sufficient resources to properly pay and train workers or maintain adequate safety standards.

The Minerals Commission says the proposed wage and tender floors are intended to create a more sustainable environment for contractors while protecting workers as Ghana strengthens local participation in the mining industry.

The development is expected to generate further discussion among mining companies, contractors and workers as the December 2026 compliance deadline approaches.