President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the offshore reconnaissance licence granted to Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited for gold exploration on Ghana’s shallow continental shelf.
The decision was communicated in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, PhD, in response to a request by the National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG).
The letter, dated October 12, 2026, referred to NAFAG’s correspondence of October 6, 2026, which called for the suspension of the licence granted to the company.
“I am directed to inform you that the offshore reconnaissance licence granted to Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited has been suspended,” the letter stated.
According to the letter, President Mahama appreciates the concerns raised by NAFAG and its constituent associations, particularly those relating to the protection of marine resources and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
The suspension follows concerns raised by fisheries stakeholders over proposed offshore gold exploration activities and their potential implications for marine ecosystems and communities dependent on fishing.
The letter was addressed to the President of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana in Accra, with copies sent to the Vice President, the Chief of Staff and the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The letter did not specify how long the suspension would remain in force or indicate whether the licence would eventually be revoked.
The decision marks an official response to NAFAG’s request for the suspension of the offshore gold reconnaissance licence held by Gold Coast GRC Ghana Limited.
