The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has expressed satisfaction with the operations of two major mining companies in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region following an official inspection tour.
The companies, Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited (CNML) and Earl International Group (GH) Gold Limited, were praised for their adherence to operational standards, particularly in the areas of safety, health, and regulatory compliance.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Mr. Buah noted that the inspection provided firsthand insight into the performance and challenges of the large-scale mining operations in the region.
“We made this tour to assess firsthand the operations, issues of safety, and to undertake an on-the-spot evaluation of the general performance of these major mines in the Upper East Region,” he said. “We are very excited about what is happening here”, he stated.
The Minister underscored the growing importance of northern Ghana as a hub for mining. He emphasized the need to leverage mining activities to drive long-term development in host communities.
“It is very clear that the future of mining is in the northern part of Ghana, and we must take advantage of this opportunity to transform these regions,” he stated.
Mr. Buah, however, stressed that beyond compliance with safety and regulatory requirements, mining companies must prioritize local content and capacity building. He mentioned the importance of equipping residents with skills and opportunities that would outlast the lifespan of the mines. According to him, such efforts would ensure the transfer of expertise to Ghanaians and create a skilled workforce capable of sustaining livelihoods even after mining activities cease.
While reaffirming government’s readiness to support compliant companies, Mr. Buah issued a strong warning against breaches of mining laws and regulations. “We are here to support them, but we will not spare anybody who breaks our laws,” he cautioned.
One of the major concerns identified during the tour was illegal mining and encroachment on the concessions of Earl International. To address this, the Minister outlined government’s proposed cooperative mining framework, which seeks to foster collaboration between large-scale mining firms, local communities, and traditional authorities.
Mr. Buah further disclosed that government is finalizing a new legal framework aimed at reforming the mining sector. The proposed law, currently awaiting Cabinet approval before being sent to Parliament, contains provisions designed to empower local communities. The law will also introduce a clearer classification of mining operations into small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale categories, a move expected to improve regulation and oversight across the sector.
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