Ghana plans to limit the duration of permits granted to companies to exploit its mines to 20 years. The government is preparing a new version of its mining bill, which is intended to replace the version already submitted to Parliament.
The initial text provided for a maximum duration of 15 years, but the revised version is expected to set this limit at 20 years, according to sources cited by Reuters on 9 October 2026. Concretely, these authorizations allow companies to extract gold and other minerals at a site for a specified period.
Currently, Ghanaian legislation allows for the granting of mining leases for a duration of up to 30 years. With the proposed reform, this maximum duration would therefore be reduced by 30 to 20 years.
This limit had already been announced in July by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. The government also intends to strengthen its control over companies in the sector.
The bill notably includes the possibility for the State to obtain a special share in certain mining companies. This mechanism would grant the State oversight regarding important decisions, such as the transfer of an exploitation permit or the voluntary closure of a company.
See also- Ghana: Artisanal mining generates 1,87 billion dollars in September. The text also includes measures to encourage the processing of minerals within Ghanaian territory.
The objective is to go beyond merely extracting subsoil resources for export, and instead to develop their processing within the country to create greater value added. These changes are being discussed with representatives of mining companies, who have expressed reservations regarding certain provisions.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has notably emphasized that certain powers envisioned for the State already existed in the legislation of 2006. The new version of the bill has yet to be transmitted to Parliament.
Its presentation date has not been specified. Fanuelle YAO.
Published on 09/10/26 15:45. The Editorial Staff