Ghana has issued a two-week ultimatum to nearly a thousand small-scale mining firms to rectify serious irregularities in their operations or face the permanent revocation of their licences, the government announced on July 21.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said 962 out of 1,278 reviewed small-scale mining permits were flagged for documentation lapses, procedural anomalies, and data inconsistencies. The decision is part of sweeping reforms to clean up the sector, reports Joy News.

“This is part of our ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities and to preserve Ghana’s natural resources. We will not hesitate to revoke licences where the rules have been breached,” Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah warned.

The ultimatum, which expires on August 4, follows the submission of a report by a ministerial committee established to audit the status of all small-scale mining licences nationwide.

According to Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Media Relations Officer at the Ministry, the committee found only 316 licences to be in good standing.

“These issues include documentation gaps, process anomalies, and data inconsistencies,” Schandorf is quoted as saying.

The latest action marks one of the government’s strongest interventions yet in a sector long plagued by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has led to widespread deforestation, river pollution, and destruction of farmlands.

Armah Kofi-Buah said the crackdown signals a new era of regulatory enforcement and announced plans for broader reforms across the entire mining industry.

“We are committed to sanitising the small-scale mining space, and this is only the beginning. Beyond small-scale mining, we will soon begin a review of large-scale mining licences as well to ensure compliance across the entire sector,” he said.

The Minister is scheduled to provide further updates during the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, July 23.

Ghana, the second-largest gold producer in Africa, has struggled in recent years to rein in illegal mining despite deploying military taskforces and revising its mining regulations. Environmentalists and civil society groups have long pushed for tougher enforcement and transparency in licensing processes.

By targeting nearly 1,000 suspect operators, the government appears to be stepping up its commitment to protecting the country’s environment and mineral wealth.

The Ministry’s directive is expected to reverberate across the industry and may trigger legal challenges from some of the affected firms. But the Minister insists there will be no compromise where violations are proven.

“This is about the future of our country and the integrity of our natural resources,” he said.