The government has directed the Minerals Commission to ensure that workers in Ghana’s mining industry do not suffer reductions in wages, benefits or conditions of service as mining companies transition from owner mining to contract mining.
The directive is part of additional policy measures announced by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to guide the implementation of Ghana’s contract mining policy while safeguarding workers’ rights and welfare.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Communications, Zambaga Rufai Saminu, the government said no worker should be disadvantaged by the transition to contract mining.
The Ministry said the measures followed concerns raised by the Ghana Mineworkers Union, human resource experts and other stakeholders about the potential impact of the transition on workers’ salaries, wages and conditions of service.
“No worker shall be rendered worse off as a consequence of its implementation,” the statement said, adding that contract mining workers should enjoy salaries, wages, allowances, benefits and other incentives equivalent to those of owner mining workers performing comparable work before the transition.
Government reinforces local content requirements
The Ministry reiterated that indigenous Ghanaian companies are required to undertake contract mining for surface mining operations, while underground contract mining must be carried out through partnerships in which Ghanaian-owned companies hold at least a 50 per cent interest.
The requirement was incorporated into the sixth edition of the Local Procurement List, which took effect on January 1, 2025, under the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations, 2020 (LI 2431).
According to the Ministry, most multinational mining companies operating in Ghana have successfully transitioned their operations to comply with the requirement.
“The successful transition undertaken by the majority of multinational mining companies demonstrates that the local content requirement is practicable and enjoys broad industry support,” the statement said.
It added that the Ministry and the Minerals Commission had held extensive consultations with the leadership of the Ghana Mineworkers Union, industry experts and other relevant stakeholders to address concerns surrounding the policy.
The engagements, it said, had clarified the regulatory and policy basis of the directive and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting workers during the transition.
Minerals Commission to prevent deterioration in conditions of service
Under the new measures, the Minerals Commission has been directed to ensure that no worker engaged, or to be engaged, by a mining contractor or similar service provider suffers any reduction in wages, emoluments, entitlements, benefits or conditions of service as a result of the shift from owner mining to contract mining.
The Commission is also expected to take the necessary steps to harmonise salaries, wages and conditions of service across the mining industry value chain.
In addition, eligible contractors are to be categorised according to their capacity to provide mining-related services.
The Ministry said the measures were supplementary to existing regulatory requirements and would not prevent the Minerals Commission from taking any further lawful action needed to advance the objectives of LI 2431.
The Commission has been given until November 30, 2026, to complete the processes required to implement the measures and submit the necessary documents for approval.
Government warns against labour abuses and bid rigging
The Ministry also warned against practices that could undermine local content objectives or disadvantage Ghanaian workers.
It said the government would maintain “ZERO TOLERANCE” for unfair labour practices, cartelisation, bid rigging, fronting and other conduct that undermines genuine Ghanaian participation in the mining industry.
“The Government remains resolute in ensuring fairness, transparency, genuine Ghanaian participation and the protection of workers across the mining industry value chain,” the statement said.
The Ministry said the measures formed part of the government’s Reset Agenda under President John Dramani Mahama and were intended to ensure that the implementation of the contract mining policy advanced local participation without compromising workers’ welfare.