Ghana: Minerals Commission opens Damang District office to enhance mining regulation

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources,  Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has commissioned the Minerals Commission’s Damang District Office in the Western Region as part of government’s efforts to decentralise mineral administration and bring regulatory services closer to mining communities.

The new office is expected to strengthen licensing, inspections, environmental and safety monitoring, stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance in the area. It will also provide mining companies, local businesses and communities with direct access to the Commission’s regulatory services.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony,  Armah-Kofi Buah said the facility demonstrates government’s commitment to a community-centred and bottom-up approach to mineral resource governance, with greater local participation and consultation in decisions affecting mining communities.

Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to responsible mining, regulatory excellence and local content development.

He said decentralisation goes beyond establishing offices and must ensure that regulatory services are accessible, responsive and effective.

According to Mr. Tandoh, the Damang office will serve as a critical regulatory hub to support legitimate investment, empower local businesses and communities, and promote the responsible and sustainable development of Ghana’s mineral resources.

The Chief of Damang, Nana Kwaku Armah II, Prestea Huni-Valley MP Wisdom Cudjoe, and other stakeholders attended the commissioning ceremony.