The issuance of mining and mining-related licenses in Ghana has garnered significant attention, reflecting the country's rich mineral potential and concerns over regulatory practices and illegal mining activities, known locally as ‘galamsey’.

There has been a growing tension regarding the number of mining and mining-related licenses that successive governments have released over the years.

Here is a detailed analysis of data from the Ghana Mining Repository.

How many licenses have been issued so far?

According to data from the Ghana Mining repository, 2,250 mining and mining-related licenses have been issued from 1988 to a starting period in 2025.

Period Analysis

The period analysis is divided into three periods: 1988 to 2008, 2009 to 2016, and 2017 to 2025. The inclusion of 2025 is due to the presence of one license stated to begin in 2025.

From 1988 to 2008, 40 mining and mining-related licenses were issued.

From 2009 to 2016, 59 licenses were issued, and between 2017 to date, 2,151 mining and mining-related licenses have been issued.

What is the current status of these Licenses?

The data from the mining repository shows that 2,202 of the total licenses are currently active and operational, 18 of them have been suspended, 29 are under review and 1 license is on a pending notice.

What is the highest number of licenses issued in a single year?

The highest number of mining and mining-related licenses that were issued in a single year is 824.

• Read also: Galamsey: It could take 300 years to restore soil quality – CSIR

This was in 2020 under the current government. It is followed by 614 licenses issued in 2024 (Jan-date). Both figures fall in general election years under the current government.   

The trend, however, shows a more increasing rate of mining and mining-related license issuance in the past 6 years as the period has more peaks.

What is the highest number of licenses issued in a day?

The most notable peak occurred on January 1, 2024, when 330 licenses were issued in a single day.

This figure surpasses the total number of licenses issued over the entire 28-year period from 1988 to 2016, indicating a significant shift in the pace and scale of licensing activities.