The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced plans to revoke the licences of 50 large-scale mining companies found to have breached key regulatory requirements.
The decision follows a rigorous review of large-scale mining operations currently being conducted by a special committee established by the Ministry.
In a statement posted on the Ministry’s official Facebook page on Tuesday, December 23, the committee said the first batch of affected companies had been identified after preliminary findings revealed serious compliance failures.
These include companies holding mining leases without valid operating permits from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC).
The review committee, acting at the direction of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP), said the revocations would proceed in line with existing laws and regulations.
“The Ministry will not hesitate to apply the full rigour of the law to sanitise the sector and ensure that mining activities are carried out responsibly,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry, the action forms part of a broader, multi-pronged government strategy to address illegalities and regulatory abuses in the mining sector.
It added that further announcements would be made as the review continues, stressing that compliance with environmental and water-use regulations remains non-negotiable for all mining operators.