Ghana’s government plans to adopt a stricter approach to renewing mining leases, with a new focus on companies’ environmental, financial, and social performance, according to Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
During a visit to mining sites in the gold-rich Tarkwa region, Mr. Buah said lease extensions will no longer be automatic, and firms will need to demonstrate their value to both the state and local communities.
“Contracts will be extended based on the records and commitments that the mining companies have made—technically and financially,” Mr. Buah told reporters. “We will assess how they have invested, how they’ve behaved as corporate citizens—not only in terms of benefiting their host communities, but also the country as a whole.”
The review will include an evaluation of companies’ tax compliance, environmental management, and fulfillment of corporate social responsibility obligations. Community engagement and local impact will also weigh heavily in extension decisions.
“We are looking at all these things—whether taxes have been paid, whether the community has benefitted, and whether the country is seeing value,” the Minister said.
The move signals a policy shift as the government seeks to extract greater value from Ghana’s mining sector, which remains a major contributor to GDP but has often come under scrutiny for limited local impact and environmental degradation.
Analysts say the new approach could heighten compliance pressure on mining operators but may also improve long-term trust and sustainability in the sector.
