The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Honourable Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has stressed the need for Ghana’s mineral resources to directly benefit communities where mining activities take place.

He made the comment during a courtesy call on him by a delegation from the North East Region at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on September 15, 2026. The visit formed part of efforts to streamline mining activities in the region and establish a framework for harnessing its mineral potential.

The Minister said the outcome of mining activities across the country had to be reflected in the development of host communities, adding that local people had to see tangible benefits from the exploitation of the mineral resources in their areas.

“Mineral resources must benefit the people there where the mining is taking place”, he remarked.

Hon. Buah described the purpose of the delegation’s visit as timely, noting that the issues raised had already formed part of Government’s broader efforts to improve mineral resource governance and the performance of the mining sector.

He said Government’s plans to introduce policies and programmes to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the mining industry had been adequately captured in the reforms being introduced and implemented by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama.

Touching on the issue of 30 years of prospecting as a license holder, the Minister said the practice had to make way for better-prepared investors to enter the prospecting space.

“That is the new way forward”, the Minister stated.

He subsequently commended the initiative of the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, for sending the delegation, led by John Wuni Gruma, the First Elder of the Nayiri’s Palace, to engage with the Ministry and the Minerals Commission on ways to harness the mining potential of the area and properly position the mineral-rich North East Region.

The Minister expressed the hope that the engagement would result in a sustainable partnership between the relevant stakeholders.

“I pray that this discussion will lead to a long term and lasting relationship”, he said.

He further assured the delegation of the Ministry’s willingness to work with them to formalise the proposed arrangements, subject to the applicable laws and regulations.

“You want us to work together to make sure we formalise things. It is something that the Ministry and the Minerals Commission welcomes. We will look at what legally we can do”, Hon. Buah assured.

Minerals Commission Commitment

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, assured the delegation of the Commission’s commitment to unlocking the mining potential of the North East Region.

He said he would spearhead the mapping of the mineralised zones using available data, while also examining the licensing regime applicable to the area.

Mr. Tandoh mentioned that the Commission would apply the relevant regulations governing the mining sector to develop an appropriate working relationship with the North East Region.

“The commission had already visited the specific area identified to engage stakeholders” he said, describing the delegation’s visit as timely and appropriate.

Regional Minister

In his remarks, the North East Regional Minister, Hon. Ibrahim Tia, who facilitated the courtesy call and engagement with the Ministry, said that prior to the visit, he had visited various mining sites in the region to caution illegal mining operators against activities that undermined government’s policies and programmes for the development of the mining sector.

He assured the Minister that the delegation would return to report to the Nayiri on the steps taken towards positioning mining as a catalyst for development in the North East Region.

He said the engagement represented an opportunity to revive an aspiration that had been discussed on several occasions.

Hon. Tia added that the delegation would work within the established regulatory framework.

“We would work strictly according to the guidelines”, he noted.

Working Committee

At the end of the meeting, Hon. Buah immediately constituted a working committee to facilitate the establishment of the proposed working relationship between the Ministry and the North East Region.

The committee’s primary focus would be to address illegal mining activities and promote efforts to attract the right investment framework into the region to support sustainable growth and development.

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