Ghana directs Newmont, AngloGold, Zijin to shift mining ops to local firms by December

Ghana’s Minerals Commission has directed Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti and Zijin Mining to fully comply with contract mining requirements by December 2026, according to separate letters sent to the companies in October and January and seen by Reuters.

The companies had each requested extensions to meet the requirements, but the regulator warned that failure to comply by the deadline could result in sanctions.

Zijin’s Ghana unit said it has been engaging the Minerals Commission since November 2025 to align with local content rules. The company noted it is preparing tenders and technical frameworks for the transition to contract mining, while also deploying new technologies that require benchmarking before a full tender process.

Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sources say Newmont’s compliance was discussed during meetings in Accra this month between its global CEO, Natascha Viljoen, and the Minerals Commission after the company sought another extension. Newmont, which operates the Ahafo North and South mines, had proposed full compliance by 2027, citing additional regulatory and governance obligations as a listed company.

However, the regulator rejected the request, noting that other listed firms, including Gold Fields, have already complied.

A source within the Ghana Chamber of Mines said the Chamber is engaging the Commission but emphasised that contract mining should remain commercially driven.

Maxwell Akalaare Adombila/Reuters