Ghana considers 60-day deadline for ratification of mining leases

Natural Resource Governance expert Dr. Steve Manteaw has disclosed that a proposal to establish a legal timeline for the ratification of mining leases has been incorporated into draft amendments to Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

In a social media post, Dr. Manteaw said he had received reliable information indicating that the proposed amendment seeks to ensure that approved mining leases are ratified within 60 days.

According to him, the proposal was initially advanced as part of efforts to address delays in the ratification process and improve efficiency within Ghana’s mining sector governance framework.

“I’m reliably informed that my proposal to specify in law the time frame for lease ratification has been considered in the draft amendments to Act 703. The draft provision is to ratify approved mining leases within 60 days,” he stated.

He described the development as progress and commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for the consideration of the proposal.

The Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), governs the administration and regulation of mineral resources in Ghana, including the approval and ratification of mining leases.

The proposed amendment is expected to contribute to greater certainty and predictability in the mining lease approval process if passed into law.