The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has declared that District Chief Executives (DCEs) will be held fully responsible for ensuring compliance with mining licenses issued in their jurisdictions.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, March 19, he stated that under a new framework, DCEs will no longer be passive observers but key enforcers of mining regulations.

“All the players that make up DISEC (District Security Council) will now be co-opted when it comes to licensing,” Mr Kofi Buah announced.

He explained that the new approach integrates various regulatory bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Minerals Commission, the Forestry Commission, the Water Resources Commission, and traditional authorities.

“The decision and the recommendation for licenses will then be brought forth,” he added.

However, what makes this framework different, according to Buah, is the direct accountability placed on DCEs once a license is issued.

“Guess what? Once the decision of licenses is issued, the District Chief Executive in DISEC is completely responsible,” he declared.

He further revealed that President John Mahama has already set key performance indicators (KPIs) for every DCE, ensuring that they enforce the licensing guidelines.

“They and their team are going to be held completely accountable,” the minister stressed.

Mr Kofi Buah criticised the previous licensing regime, where multiple agencies operated in silos, leading to loopholes and regulatory blind spots.

“In the past, we had bosses of approval. The Water Resources Commission, for example, would approve a license to say that yes, this is not close to a water body, the EPA would approve, then the Minerals Commission would approve,” he explained.

However, he insisted that this fragmented approach lacked proper oversight, which often led to violations and environmental degradation.

The minister underscored that the new system is not just about streamlining bureaucracy but also about giving affected communities a decisive role in the process.

“This new approach envisages, even though it has been attempted before, a one-stop shop. But more than that, this time, that one-stop shop also includes the communities that are going to be impacted,” he revealed.

Mr Kofi Buah outlined that before any small-scale mining license is approved, local communities will have to verify and endorse the decision.

“The communities are also going to approve this recommendation that indeed, having heard in our area, we agree that this small-scale mining license concession is, quite frankly, not close to a water body or a forest reserve,” he said.

“It is only on that basis that the minister sitting in Accra will sign and approve a small-scale mining license.”

With this new policy direction, the government is signalling a tougher stance on mining violations and environmental destruction.

DCEs will now be directly answerable if mining licenses in their districts lead to illegal activities or environmental harm.

As Minister Kofi Buah made clear, “No more excuses—DCEs must enforce the law, and they will be held to it.”