According to him, the impact of mining must go beyond extraction and revenue generation to translate into tangible development for host communities and the country as a whole.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has stressed the need for Ghana’s mineral resources to directly benefit communities where mining activities take place.

According to him, the impact of mining must go beyond extraction and revenue generation to translate into tangible development for host communities and the country as a whole.

“Mineral resources must benefit the people where the mining is taking place,” he said.

Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah made the remarks on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when a delegation from the North East Region, led by the first elder of the Nayiri’s Palace, John Wuni Gruma, paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

The engagement, initiated by the overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, focused on exploring ways to streamline mining activities and unlock the mineral potential of the North East Region.

The Minister said the initiative aligns with ongoing government reforms aimed at improving mineral resource governance, efficiency and effectiveness in the mining sector.

He noted that government was introducing policies to create opportunities for better-prepared investors while ensuring that mineral resources are managed in the broader interest of the country.

Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah also criticised the practice where some licence holders retain prospecting rights for extended periods without meaningful development, saying reforms are needed to create space for new and capable investors.

“That’s the new way forward,” he stated.

He welcomed the initiative by the Mamprugu Kingdom and expressed optimism that the engagement with the Ministry and the Minerals Commission would lead to a lasting partnership to properly position the North East as an emerging mining zone.

“You want us to work together to make sure we formalise things. It’s something the Ministry and the Minerals Commission welcome. We will look at what legally we can do,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh, assured the delegation of the Commission’s commitment to identifying and developing the mining potential of the North East Region.

He said the Commission would map out mineralised areas based on available geological data and guide the licensing process in accordance with existing regulations.

Mr. Tandoh disclosed that officials of the Commission had already visited some of the identified areas and engaged relevant stakeholders.

He described the delegation’s visit as timely and an important step towards establishing a structured relationship between the traditional authorities, the Regional Administration and state institutions responsible for mining.

The North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, who facilitated the engagement, said he had earlier visited mining sites across the region and cautioned operators engaged in illegal mining to desist from activities that undermine government’s efforts to properly regulate the sector.

He said the delegation would brief the Nayiri on the outcome of the engagement and the steps being taken to position the region to benefit from its mineral resources.

“This is a dream that has come up severally and we were just looking for this opportunity,” Mr. Tia said.

He assured the Ministry that the region and traditional authorities would work within the established regulatory framework.

Following the meeting, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah constituted a working committee to facilitate the establishment of a formal working relationship between the Ministry, the Minerals Commission and stakeholders in the North East Region.

The committee is expected to focus on tackling illegal mining, identifying the region’s mineral potential and creating an appropriate investment framework capable of attracting responsible investors.

The initiative is expected to position the North East Region to harness its mineral resources while ensuring that mining contributes meaningfully to local development and the livelihoods of host communities.

Source: 3news