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GENERAL

Ayariga Proposes Overhaul of Small-Scale Mining Regulations, Calls for Engineers in Every District

Mahama Ayariga, the Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has outlined an ambitious plan to transform Ghana's small-scale mining sector, proposing the deployment of mining engineers to every district and a fundamental rethink of how the country regulates artisanal mining.

Date Created : 8/27/2026 : Story Author : Ghanandistricts.com

Appearing before Parliament's Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Mr Ayariga—who previously served as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology—said his experience had shaped his conviction that Ghana must move beyond simply criminalising illegal mining and instead address the underlying causes driving the practice.

A 'Negative Connotation'

The Majority Leader and Bawku Central MP argued that the term "galamsey" itself carries a negative connotation that obscures the real issues at play.

"The underlying causes really are that a lot of these young people who want to mine legally have difficulty obtaining the requisite permits to carry out the mining activity," he told the committee.

He explained that because many operators cannot secure the necessary permits, they operate as "illegal actors"—and as a result, are unwilling to make the required investments to mine properly and safely.

A District-Level Approach

Mr Ayariga proposed that Ghana identify artisanal miners in every district and find ways to structure their activities legally—while ensuring mining does not take place in water bodies or destroy existing farms.

"Let's engage, let's ensure that they are doing it legally," he said.

The Minister-designate stressed that Ghana should not approach the sector solely from a prohibition perspective, arguing that the country can benefit economically from small-scale mining if properly regulated.

Investment in Monitoring

Central to his proposal is a significant investment in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission.

"Let's invest in EPA and have a lot of people at the EPA. Let's invest in the Minerals Commission and have a lot of mining engineers who are in every district—who identify every single space where a mining activity is taking place," he said.

He argued that the presence of mining engineers in every district would allow authorities to monitor operators and ensure mining activities are conducted in accordance with environmental regulations.

Restoring Degraded Lands

Mr Ayariga further insisted that miners must bear responsibility for restoring lands affected by their operations.

"Whoever carries out that activity will reclaim the area and plant and make sure that they restore the area to what it was," he said.

He said the approach would combine effective regulation with land reclamation and environmental restoration to minimise the long-term impact of mining on communities and the environment.

Responding to Critics

The Minister-designate also addressed recent criticism from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which had alleged that the activities of the Gold Board are encouraging illegal miners because authorities cannot trace the origin of gold to determine whether it comes from legal or illegal operations.

Mr Ayariga said this challenge calls for greater investment in tracking the location where gold is sourced and verifying whether operators are mining legally.

GENERAL

Ayariga Proposes Overhaul of Small-Scale Mining Regulations, Calls for Engineers in Every District

Date Created : 8/27/2026 : Story Author : Ghanandistricts.com

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