Mining Research Overview and Introduction

The document outlines Ghana's position as a leading gold exporter and the resulting economic benefits, contrasted with severe environmental and health impacts caused by mining, particularly illegal 'galamsey' operations. It details the legislative framework, centered on the Minerals and Mining Act 2006, and the institutional roles of entities like the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission. The briefing introduces a series of thematic papers focusing on mineral rights, benefit sharing, stakeholder engagement, and mining in forest reserves.

• Ghana is a major global mineral producer, ranking as Africa's top gold exporter since 2019 and the 13th largest gold exporter globally in 2022. Gold exports were valued at approximately $9.53 billion in 2022, representing roughly 47.65% of the country's total exports for that year. Ghana also ranks as the ninth-largest global diamond producer and eleventh-largest bauxite producer.
• Illegal mining, known as 'galamsey', causes significant environmental degradation and public health crises. These activities have led to deforestation and the pollution of air and water bodies, with the document warning that Ghana may eventually need to import drinking water if illegal mining is not curbed. Health impacts in host communities include respiratory disorders, skin diseases, ulcers, and infections resulting from mercury poisoning.
• The mining sector faces economic challenges including tax evasion by illegal miners and declining exploration investment. In 2013, illegal mining accounted for 34% of gold production, but the government received no taxes from this portion. Furthermore, Ghana currently ranks fourth in planned mining exploration investments, trailing behind Mali, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire, which may lead to decreased production over the next decade.
• The regulatory framework for mining in Ghana is primarily based on the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), supplemented by various amendment acts and subsidiary legislation covering areas such as licensing, explosives, health and safety, and local content.
• Mineral resource management is distributed across several state institutions. The President holds minerals in trust for the nation, while the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) manages the grant and revocation of mineral rights. The Minerals Commission acts as a consultative and enforcement body, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Forestry Commission (FC) ensure environmental compliance and protect forest reserves.

APA

Martey, D., Godts, R., Akapame, C. K., Ichou, B., & Norteye, R. P. N. S. (2024). Mining Research Overview and Introduction. ClientEarth. https://www.clientearth.org/media/chup3dlp/ghana-mining-overview-intro.pdf

Chicago

Martey, Dennis, Raphaëlle Godts, Clement Kojo Akapame, Benjamin Ichou, and Ruth Pauline Naa Shormeh Norteye. Mining Research Overview and Introduction. ClientEarth, 2024. https://www.clientearth.org/media/chup3dlp/ghana-mining-overview-intro.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Martey |first1=Dennis |last2=Godts |first2=Raphaëlle |last3=Akapame |first3=Clement Kojo |last4=Ichou |first4=Benjamin |last5=Norteye |first5=Ruth Pauline Naa Shormeh |title=Mining Research Overview and Introduction |publisher=ClientEarth |date=June 2024 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/chup3dlp/ghana-mining-overview-intro.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{martey2024mining, author = {Martey, Dennis and Godts, Raphaëlle and Akapame, Clement Kojo and Ichou, Benjamin and Norteye, Ruth Pauline Naa Shormeh}, title = {{Mining Research Overview and Introduction}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/chup3dlp/ghana-mining-overview-intro.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }