Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Ghana’s contract mining policy, introducing additional directives aimed at protecting workers’ conditions of service while strengthening local participation in the mining sector.
The clarification follows concerns raised by the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, human resource practitioners and other industry stakeholders over the potential impact of the transition from owner-operated mining to contract mining on salaries, benefits and job security.In a statement, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources stressed that indigenous Ghanaian companies will continue to undertake contract mining for surface mining operations.
For underground mining activities, contract mining arrangements must involve partnerships in which
Ghanaian-owned firms hold a minimum 50 percent stake.
According to the ministry, the local content requirement was formally incorporated into the sixth edition of the Local Procurement List under the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020 (LI 2431), which took effect on 1 January 2025.
It noted that most multinational mining companies operating in Ghana have already adjusted their operational arrangements to comply with the directive.
The ministry said extensive consultations involving the Minerals Commission, organised labour and industry experts had been conducted to address concerns surrounding the policy and clarify its regulatory basis.
As part of the implementation framework, government has directed the Minerals Commission to ensure that no worker employed by a mining contractor or service provider suffers any reduction in wages, benefits, entitlements or conditions of service because of the transition.
It further maintained that employees engaged by Ghanaian contract mining firms must continue to receive salaries, allowances and other incentives comparable to those enjoyed by workers performing similar roles under previous owner-mining structures.
“The government remains committed to ensuring that no worker is disadvantaged through the transition process,” the statement emphasised.
Beyond worker protections, the Minerals Commission has also been tasked with implementing broader industry reforms, including the harmonisation of salaries, wages and conditions of service across the mining sector.
Eligible contractors will additionally be categorised according to their technical and operational capacity to deliver mining-related services, a measure intended to enhance transparency, improve standards and promote competitiveness.
The ministry said these measures complement existing regulatory requirements and do not restrict the Commission’s authority to take any further lawful action under the local content regulations.
The Commission has been directed to complete all processes required for the implementation of the measures and submit the necessary documentation for approval by 30 November 2026.
Government also reiterated its determination to enforce local content objectives and safeguard genuine Ghanaian participation throughout the mining value chain.
It warned that there would be “zero tolerance” for unfair labour practices, cartelisation, bid-rigging, fronting and any other activities deemed detrimental to Ghanaian workers or local businesses.
According to the ministry, the ongoing transition by major multinational mining firms demonstrates that the contract mining framework is both practical and increasingly accepted across the industry.
The latest directives, it added, form part of broader efforts to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability within the mining sector while delivering long-term economic benefits for Ghana.
Source: businesspostonline
