You must establish a registered legal business entity before filing an application for particular mineral rights.
- Formation of the Corporation
All mining businesses, except for certain small-scale individual miners, must be registered in accordance with the Companies Act.
Agency: Registrar General’s Department (RGD).
Requirements: A minimum of two directors is required, one of whom must be a resident of Ghana, in addition to a company secretary and an auditor.
International Collaboration: Wholly foreign-owned enterprises are mandated to have a minimum registered capital of USD 500,000. Partnerships with a Ghanaian entity holding mining concessions, which must have at least a 10% equity stake, require a minimum capital investment of USD 200,000.
GIPC Registration: Entities with foreign investment must complete registration with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre - Classifications of Mineral Rights
Upon incorporation, you must acquire one of the following licences from the Minerals Commission:
Reconnaissance Licence: Authorises preliminary investigations and testing activities (valid for 12 months, renewable).
Prospecting : For extensive exploration and drilling operations (valid for up to 3 years, with renewal options).
Mining Lease: Issued for commercial extraction activities, with a validity period of up to 30 years.
3: Environmental Permit: Authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) following an environmental impact assessment.
Operating Permit: Issued by the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission.
Forestry Permit: Required when the site is located within a designated forest reserve.
Tax Registration: Registration with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to acquire a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a Tax Clearance Certificate.
- Procedure for Digital Application
As of 2025, the Minerals Commission utilizes an Online Repository portal for the submission of applications.
Register electronically: Create an account on the portal.
Pay the Fees: Fees can be paid through the Ghana.gov portal. - Expenses and Timeline Fees: The application fee for a mining concession in Ghana is approximately GH₵ 50,000, while the fee for a prospecting license is GH₵ 10,000.
Timeline: Obtaining a comprehensive mining tenure may necessitate a duration of 12 to 24 months due to the requirement for parliamentary approval.
