The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revoked 278 small-scale mining licenses across the country over regulatory breaches and the expiration of operating permits.

This was disclosed by Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the Spokesperson and Media Relations Officer at the Lands Ministry, in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 23.

According to Mr Schandorf, the decision forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to sanitise Ghana’s small-scale mining sector and ensure strict adherence to the country’s mining regulations.

The revoked licenses reportedly include those belonging to operators who failed to comply with key environmental and safety standards or who continued operations after their permits had expired.

The move underscores Minister Armah-Kofi Buah’s renewed commitment to enforcing discipline and accountability in the small-scale mining industry, which has been plagued by illegal operations and environmental degradation in recent years.

The Ministry is expected to provide further details on the affected concessions and outline the next steps to support responsible small-scale mining operations that meet the regulatory threshold.