From Acting Mining Manager at Goldfields Ghana to an industry regulator role as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Andrews Tandoh, has laid his vision to transform Ghana’s mining industry.
His leadership is expected to be anchored on the solid foundations laid by his predecessor, with a focus on balancing government policy direction and industry productivity.
“A lot of good things have happened at the Minerals Commission. My predecessor built a lot of good things, capacity, building, infrastructure, and I believe these are fundamentals that we can stand on to drive the strategic direction of the government policy that we want to do,” Mr. Tandoh said on Joy News’ PM Business Edition on September 4.
Drawing on over two decades of industry experience, he stressed that his professional background uniquely positions him to align national priorities with corporate realities.
“If you ask what I bring to the table, at least, I have over 20 years of mining experience, so I’ve been on the other side and implemented policies, and I would know what will be beneficial to the company as well as the government,” he explained.
For him, the role is not only about oversight but also about ensuring a fair balance between government interests and operational efficiency for mining companies.
“So at least I should be the guy to be able to strike a balance between government policies and what actually drives productivity or efficiency for the companies on the other side,” Mr. Tandoh emphasised.
Confident in his ability to guide the Commission’s mandate, he concluded: “So if you ask me, I think I mean the right position to actually advise the government on some of the things it wants to do based on the experiences and where I am coming from.”
Mining Lease review
The Acting Chief Executive has maintained that the planned review of Ghana’s mining and minerals laws are in line with current global practice and development.
“What Ghana is doing now is not out of place, as most ‘gold rich’ countries are all reviewing their laws and regulations.”
“We have engaged them, but have not finalized things, but the government is committed to ensure that all their issues are addressed,” he added.
Isaac Andrews Tandoh also announced that the stakeholder engagement is about 99 percent complete, “however there are several things that we need to do, before the document is finally sent to parliament.”
He also defended the government’s decision to review the development agreement for mining firms in the country.
“Current development has shown that we don’t need stability or development agreements now. However this will affect fresh agreements and not the ones that already have a deal with the government,” he stated.
Chamber of Mines concerns
Already, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has strongly cautioned the government against proposals to cut the tenure of mining leases from 30 years to 15 years, warning that such a move could jeopardize investment flows, reduce long-term community benefits, and erode Ghana’s competitiveness in the global mining sector.
Delivering its position paper on proposed amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) at a press briefing, last week, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, argued that mining projects are long-term, capital-intensive ventures that often require more than a decade of preparatory work before production begins.
A shorter lease, he noted, would leave companies with little time to recover costs and generate fair returns
“Reducing the tenure of mining leases to 15 years will curtail the available time for recouping investments, lower a project’s net present value, and compromise the viability of deep-seated or marginal ore bodies,” the CEO of the Chamber stated.
Dr. Ashigbey also warned that a shortened lease period would discourage near-mine exploration, encourage “high-grading” of deposits, sterilize marginal ore bodies, and limit long-term corporate social investments in host communities.
In comparative terms, he noted that Ghana would become less attractive to investors than peer jurisdictions such as Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, where mining leases are tied to project economics rather than capped at a shorter term.
Instead, he urged policymakers to maintain the current 30-year tenure provided under Act 703, alongside flexible renewal arrangements. This, he argued, is crucial for sustaining investor confidence, ensuring stable revenue for government, and supporting long-term socio-economic development in mining communities.
“Mining is inherently high-risk and long-term. Any legal framework that shortens the investment horizon will only elevate Ghana’s tax burden relative to peers and deter new investments,” the CEO of the Chamber cautioned.
The Chamber’s call comes amid a broader review of Ghana’s mining legislation, which also includes proposals to reduce stability agreements from 15 to 5 years, abolish development agreements for large-scale projects, and shorten prospecting license durations.
While the industry body welcomed aspects of the review such as the creation of a medium-scale mining tier, it emphasized that lease tenure and stability agreements remain the bedrock of mining investment decisions.
Background
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah at a recent Government Accountability series announced that the Government is currently working to review the country’s mining laws.
He added that this will affect the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the 2014 Minerals and Mining Policy,
Armah-Kofi Buah described the mining sector as “the lifeline for millions of Ghanaians,” noting that the country’s rich deposits of gold, diamonds, bauxite, iron, salt, and other minerals must be managed to benefit all citizens, especially communities that directly experience the impact of mining activities.
The Government, through the Minerals Commission, is introducing several sweeping changes aimed at correcting long-standing imbalances and promoting responsible mining practices. Some of the key reforms include:
Time-bound Prospecting Licenses: Reducing the duration for which prospecting licenses are held, moving away from indefinite tenure to a clearly defined time-frame.
Limiting Mining Lease Periods: The maximum duration for mining leases will be cut from 30 years to a shorter, agreed-upon period.
Abolishing Development Agreements: In their place, Community Development Agreements (CDAs) will become mandatory, compelling mining companies to allocate a fixed percentage of their gross revenue to fund development projects in host communities.
Introduction of Medium-Scale Licenses: A new three-tier mineral rights regime will include a specific category for medium-scale operations to ensure more tailored and inclusive licensing.
