Mineral wealth must benefit mining communities – Armah-Kofi Buah

Story by: Regina Bless

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called for Ghana’s mineral resources to deliver meaningful benefits to communities where mining takes place.

According to him, mining activities must contribute to the development of host communities by improving livelihoods, infrastructure and economic opportunities.

The Minister made the remarks on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when a delegation from the North East Region, led by the First Elder of the Nayiri’s Palace, John Wuni Gruma, paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration to streamline mining activities and unlock the mineral potential of the North East Region.

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the concerns raised by the delegation align with government’s broader efforts to reform the mining sector, improve mineral resource governance and ensure Ghana gains greater value from its natural resources.

He also called for changes to the current system under which licence holders can retain prospecting rights for as long as 30 years. He argued that reforms could create room for more capable and better-prepared investors to participate in mineral exploration.

The Minister commended the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, for initiating discussions with the Ministry and the Minerals Commission.

He expressed hope that the engagement would develop into a lasting partnership involving traditional authorities, the regional administration and relevant government institutions. He further assured the delegation that the Ministry and the Minerals Commission would explore the legal framework required to formalise the collaboration.

Minerals Commission to Map Mineral Zones

The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, pledged the Commission’s support in identifying and developing the mineral potential of the North East Region.

He said the Commission would use available geological data to map mineralised areas and determine the appropriate licensing arrangements for the region.

Mr Tandoh added that the Commission would work within the existing legal and regulatory framework to establish a structured partnership with the North East Region.

He disclosed that officials had already visited some of the areas identified for stakeholder engagement, describing the delegation’s visit as timely.

North East Commits to Responsible Mining

The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, said the region was committed to working with the Ministry and other relevant agencies to promote responsible mining.

He noted that he had visited several mining sites in the region and warned illegal miners against activities that undermine government’s efforts to properly regulate and develop the sector.

Mr Tia said the delegation would brief the Nayiri on the outcome of the meeting and the steps being taken to position mining as a driver of sustainable development in the region.

Working Committee Established

Following the meeting, Minister Armah-Kofi Buah constituted a working committee to facilitate the proposed collaboration between the Ministry and the North East Region.

The committee will work on tackling illegal mining, identifying the region’s mineral resources and developing an investment framework capable of attracting responsible investors.

The initiative is expected to support sustainable mining, improve economic opportunities for local communities and ensure that the mineral wealth of the North East contributes meaningfully to the region’s development.