Baseline Information for the National Action Plan on Artisanal and Small - Scale Gold Mining: Ghana

ASGM is legal and recognised in Ghana through the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, Act 703 and the National Mining Policy, 2014. The Policy, Act and subsidiary legislations provides for the regulation, licensing, fiscal regime and designation of mining areas. Only Ghanaians of age18 years and above can be granted Small scale mining license. ASGM is regulated by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources through the Minerals Commission. The Commission’s mandate is to regulate and manage mineral resources, and to coordinate and implement policies relating to mining. Other institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey Department play key roles in issuing environmental permits and providing geological data for miners respectively. The Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation (PMMC) is responsible for the purchase of gold produced by small-scale miners and performs other functions such as to grade, assay, value and process precious minerals and appoint licensed buyers for the purchase of precious minerals produced by small-scale miners.