In line with the government’s aim of improving the ease of doing business in Ghana, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, is implementing a paperless/online mineral rights application system, sector minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, has said.

He said that Phase 1 (that is an online data repository) has been completed and piloted in Minerals Commission District two (2) offices (Bolgatanga and Tarkwa).

The Phase 2 of the project, which involves the total digitisation of the licensing procedure, is underway and will be completed by December 2019.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, 11 September 2019, Mr Asomah-Cheremeh said: “This platform, once fully operationalised, will allow improved access to information: this will enable mining companies, investors, stakeholders and civil society organisations to access mineral rights information from any part of the globe; increase transparency in mineral rights administration & associated revenues: recording of all revenues related to the licences, among others.”

He added: “With the ban on small-scale mining lifted in December 2018, the ministry anticipated an increase in small-scale mining activity.

“The ministry is, therefore, pursuing strategies that will ensure that the sector does not experience a relapse of activities that necessitated the ban.”