Ghana gold regulator rejects amnesty claim, says illegal miners must stop before licensing

Ghana’s Gold Board denied proposing an amnesty for illegal gold miners, stating its objective is to integrate qualifying operators into the regulated sector while maintaining current legal requirements. In a March meeting, chief executive Sammy Gyamfi suggested that miners operating outside protected zones could continue work while applying for registration, a comment the board says was taken out of context. EPA deputy chief Michael Ayamga-Adongo emphasized that any illegal operation must be stopped as the first step toward regularisation, requiring mineral rights, environmental clearance and a permit.

Law professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua noted that the Minerals and Mining Act mandates registration before extraction, making retroactive legalisation impossible. The issue comes as Ghana reports a surge in artisanal gold exports—85.4 tonnes valued at $11.6 bn—highlighting the economic stakes of formalising the sector. Stakeholders such as the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners and the Centre for Mining Research and Policy support formalisation provided transparent eligibility rules. Gold Board plans a formalisation and financing support programme for 2027, but it remains unclear whether miners must cease activity while applications are processed.