Concerns are mounting over the management of mining concessions and delays in policy implementation, as illegal mining continues to spread across Ghana, a policy analyst has warned.

Ing. Wisdom Gomashie of Africa Policy Lens said evidence suggests that alternative livelihood programmes intended to transition illegal miners into formal operations have not kept pace with the scale of the problem.

“The existence of illegal mining across the country is enough evidence that the policy has not caught up,” he said on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (9 June).

Gomashie noted that although several large-scale mining companies — including AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Newmont — have reportedly ceded portions of their concessions to support cooperative mining, no active operations have begun on those lands.

He cautioned that delays could create opportunities for abuse.

“There are speculations that some powerful hands are trying to re-award these concessions for private gain,” he said.

The RTI findings also revealed gaps in transparency, with authorities failing to provide detailed information on concession locations and beneficiary data.

Gomashie called for greater openness, including the publication of concession maps, timelines and beneficiary records to enable public scrutiny.

He also urged the government to prioritise funding for the programme, citing provisions in the Ghana Gold Board Act that allocate a portion of surplus funds to small-scale mining initiatives.

“We still have room for improvement,” he said, adding that stronger implementation could help reduce tensions between mining companies and local communities while advancing the fight against illegal mining.