The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Yussif Sulemana, has announced that the government will soon revoke licenses held by individuals or companies that have failed to develop their mining concessions.
According to him, the decision has become necessary because some license holders continue to sit on concessions without the financial capacity to develop them, while others with the required resources are unable to access mining areas.
Mr. Sulemana made this known when officials from the Ministry appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to queries related to infractions, illegal mining (galamsey), and the country’s licensing regime.
He further raised concerns about Ghanaians who acquire licenses only to hand over the operation of their concessions to foreign nationals—particularly Chinese miners—many of whom do not possess valid work permits.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that under Ghana’s laws, small-scale mining is reserved exclusively for Ghanaians, and any breach of this regulation will be met with strict enforcement measures.
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