Ghana's Cabinet approved amendments to the 2006 Minerals and Mining Act for submission to Parliament as part of efforts to strengthen oversight of the mining sector, increase state revenues, expand local participation and curb illegal mining, Reuters reported on July 15. The proposed reforms would replace existing reconnaissance and prospecting licenses with a single five-year exploration license subject to progress reviews, establish district mining committees to give communities a greater role in licensing decisions, and require mining companies to negotiate development agreements directly with host communities.

Ghana's mining sector has historically relied on a licensing framework established under the 2006 Minerals and Mining Act, which separated reconnaissance, prospecting and mining licenses while granting significant control over mineral rights to the state but limiting community involvement in decision-making. The reforms were also driven by concerns about illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has contributed to environmental degradation, particularly through pollution of water bodies, land destruction and disputes between communities, illegal miners and large-scale operators.