Ghana has directed several major mining companies, including Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti, and Zijin Mining, to transfer parts of their mining operations to locally owned subcontractors by December 2026, as part of a broader policy to increase domestic participation in the gold industry.

According to the directive, surface mining activities are required to be handled by companies fully owned by Ghanaian nationals, while underground mining operations must involve at least 50% local ownership.

The policy is aimed at strengthening local control over natural resources and increasing the participation of Ghanaian firms in the country’s mining value chain. Authorities say the reform is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that more economic benefits from gold production remain within the country.

The three companies targeted by the directive are among the few large-scale operators still relying primarily on their own in-house workforce rather than subcontracting locally, unlike most other international mining firms operating in Ghana.

Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti, and Zijin Mining have not yet fully transitioned to the required model, although several other operators in the sector have already adapted to local subcontracting requirements.

The move reflects a wider trend across resource-rich African countries seeking to increase local content in extractive industries and strengthen national participation in key economic sectors.