The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, reported by TV3 News 360.

Although the official reasons for the reassignment remain unclear, the move comes after months of mounting pressure on government to remove him from office.

Criticism Over Anti-Galamsey Efforts

In April 2025, the National Concerned Small-Scale Miners Association, Ghana (NCSSMAG) publicly criticized the Minerals Commission under Mr. Ayisi’s leadership. The association accused the Commission of failing to provide effective solutions in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).

The Association’s President, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, argued that the Commission’s “actions and inactions” had worsened land degradation and water pollution in mining communities. He stressed that urgent reforms at the Commission were necessary to strengthen government’s anti-galamsey efforts.

Next Steps Unclear

It is not yet known what specific role Mr. Ayisi will assume at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources following his reassignment. Analysts, however, note that the development signals possible shifts in government’s strategy toward managing Ghana’s mining sector and addressing the illegal mining menace.