The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced plans to revoke the licences of 50 large-scale mining companies found to have breached regulatory requirements.
The decision follows an ongoing comprehensive review of large-scale mining operations being conducted by a special ministerial committee established for that purpose.
At the directive of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), the committee has released the first batch of affected companies. The cited breaches include holding mining leases without valid operational permits from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC).
The revocation forms part of the government’s broader strategy to address persistent illegalities and regulatory non-compliance within the mining sector.
According to the Ministry, the review exercise is intended to ensure that mining activities comply strictly with established legal, environmental, and operational protocols, in line with the government’s commitment to safe, responsible, and sustainable mining.
The large-scale mining review mirrors a similar exercise recently undertaken in the small-scale mining sector, aimed at achieving a comprehensive clean-up of the industry.
Earlier, the Ministry revoked 278 small-scale mining licences over various regulatory infractions.
The Ministry has indicated that the review will continue, with further enforcement actions expected as part of its statutory oversight responsibilities.
Story by Sheila Otuo – Baffour