Members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources have intensified calls for stronger regulatory oversight and reforms in Ghana’s mining sector following a high-level working visit to the headquarters of the Minerals Commission.
The visit, led by Committee Chairman Collins Dauda, formed part of Parliament’s broader efforts to gain firsthand insight into the operational systems, infrastructure and regulatory direction of institutions managing the country’s mineral resources.
The Committee engaged management of the Commission in discussions centred on the future of mining regulation, illegal mining control measures, digitisation of mineral licensing processes and the growing demand for transparency and efficiency in the sector.
Addressing the delegation, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Policy Planning, Mineral Titles and Local Content, Victoria Awuni, outlined key reforms being pursued by the Commission to modernise Ghana’s mining administration framework.
She highlighted ongoing digitisation of the mineral titles and licensing regime, reforms targeting the small-scale mining subsector, efforts to strengthen the legal framework governing mining activities, as well as stricter enforcement of local content regulations aimed at increasing Ghanaian participation in the industry.
According to Madam Awuni, the Commission remains focused on positioning itself as a modern and technology-driven regulator capable of responding to the evolving demands of the extractive industry while ensuring the sustainable management of the country’s mineral wealth.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Collins Dauda, said the visit offered members a practical understanding of the Commission’s operations and challenges beyond reports presented in Parliament.
He emphasized that direct engagements with institutions under the Committee’s supervision were essential to effective parliamentary oversight and informed policy decision-making.
The interaction also brought to the fore some of the critical challenges confronting the sector, particularly resource limitations and the persistent threat of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Committee members were taken on a guided tour of technical and operational facilities to assess the Commission’s preparedness to manage increasingly data-driven regulatory responsibilities within the mining industry.
Management of the Commission showcased improvements in mineral rights processing timelines and measures being implemented to strengthen oversight of small-scale mining operations across the country.
Representatives from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat and the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme also briefed the Committee on ongoing interventions aimed at tackling illegal mining and promoting responsible mining practices.
The meeting ended with renewed commitment from both Parliament and the Commission to deepen collaboration in shaping policies and legislation that respond to the changing realities of Ghana’s mining sector while protecting national interest and ensuring sustainable resource governance.
By: Christian Kpesese
