Ghana has ordered its mining regulator to standardise salaries, wages, and employment conditions across the sector as the government prepares to shift more mine operations to local contractors.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has directed the Minerals Commission to ensure workers do not suffer cuts to pay, benefits, or conditions when operations move from owner mining to contract mining.
The regulator must also develop a contractor classification system based on capacity and submit implementation proposals by 30 November.
The move follows union concerns that the government’s local-content drive could reduce employment conditions as multinational miners transfer more work to Ghanaian contractors.
Major operators affected by the broader policy include Newmont (NYSE:NEM), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), and Zijin Mining Group (HKEX:2899).
Local-content push widens
Ghana has already been drafting safeguards around contractor transitions involving Newmont and Zijin, as previously reported by Mining.com.au.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah says the government wants contract mining to expand Ghanaian participation without compromising workers’ welfare.
The ministry says there will be zero tolerance for unfair labour practices, cartelisation, bid-rigging, and fronting arrangements that undermine local-content objectives.
The pay standardisation push also comes amid broader scrutiny of Ghana’s mining framework, including legislative, regulatory, and cybersecurity issues.
Ghana has been tightening local-content rules across its mining industry, including employment, procurement, and ownership requirements. The Minerals Commission says the framework is intended to increase Ghanaian participation in mining while building domestic businesses and employment.
Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer and hosts operations owned by several major international mining companies.
(with files from Reuters)
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Main image: Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
