In Ghana, minerals in their natural state belong to the Republic. Companies and individuals gain the right to search for and mine them through mineral rights granted under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
Who grants them
The Minister responsible for mines grants, renews, suspends and revokes mineral rights on the advice of the Minerals Commission, which regulates and manages the use of Ghana’s mineral resources.
The main types
- Reconnaissance licence: preliminary surveys over a large area.
- Prospecting licence: exploration, including drilling, to find and define a deposit.
- Mining lease: the right to develop and operate a mine.
- Restricted mineral rights: for industrial minerals such as clay, sand and granite.
- Small-scale mining licence: exploitation rights for small operations, granted only to Ghanaian citizens (individuals aged 18 and over, groups, co-operatives and companies).
The state’s share
- The government holds a 10% free carried interest in mining lease holders, without contributing capital.
- Holders of exploitation rights pay royalties. Since the Minerals and Mining Royalty Regulations, 2025, gold royalties follow a sliding scale linked to the gold price.
- Large investments can negotiate stability agreements of up to 15 years and development agreements.
Mining rights are not trading rights
Holding a mineral right lets you mine. Buying, selling, aggregating or exporting gold produced by others is regulated separately under the Gold Board Act, 2025, through GoldBod licences such as aggregator and buyer licences.
Before relying on any right
Confirm the holder, area, expiry and status directly with the Minerals Commission, and have a Ghanaian lawyer review any transfer or joint venture.
Sources
- Minerals Commission: Overview of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703)
- Citi Newsroom: Minerals and Mining Royalty Regulations, 2025 mature into law
- Mondaq: GoldBod licence categories
This article is for information only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and figures change; confirm the current position with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser before acting. Image: illustration (AI-generated).
