Concerns over the possible impact of offshore gold exploration on Ghana’s marine environment and fishing communities have led to a suspension of activities by GoldCoast GRC Ghana Limited, placing its search for gold along the country’s coastline on hold.
The Minerals Commission has directed the company to stop all activities under its reconnaissance licences pending further consultations and written authorisation to resume, following questions about the environmental implications of the programme and the extent of stakeholder engagement.
The suspension comes after the Fisheries Commission raised objections to the exploration programme, arguing that it had been developed largely from a land-based mining perspective without adequate consideration of Ghana’s marine environment.
In a formal protest in September, the Fisheries Commission said it had not been meaningfully involved in the assessment, planning or permitting of the activities, raising concerns about the potential implications for fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
Fishing associations, coastal communities and civil society organisations have also called for a review of the licences, citing the need to protect fishing grounds, marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
GoldCoast secured 10 contiguous reconnaissance licences in February 2026, covering approximately 10,000 square kilometres of offshore territory stretching from around Half Assini towards Winneba.
The company has completed about 50,000 line-kilometres of airborne magnetic surveying and identified a priority exploration target of approximately 500 square kilometres around the mouth of the Ankobra River.
Preliminary coastal sampling has also produced what the company describes as encouraging indications of gold, including visible gold in samples collected along sections of the coast.
GoldCoast had outlined plans for further exploration, including seaborne surveys, vibrocore drilling and bulk sampling, with possible near-shore shallow-water dredging in a later phase, depending on the results.
Those activities will remain suspended until the required consultations have been completed and the necessary written authorisation has been obtained.
The immediate issue is whether the concerns raised by fisheries authorities and other stakeholders can be addressed sufficiently for the company to resume its offshore exploration programme.
