The Ghana Chamber of Mines has pushed back against claims that the country depends only on royalties to earn revenue from its mining sector, explaining that Ghana actually operates a broader royalty–tax system.

This response follows recent remarks by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which argued that Ghana’s mining tax structure is outdated and leans too heavily on royalties.

In a statement released on April 20, 2026, the Chamber said that description is inaccurate and does not reflect how the system truly works. It noted that Ghana’s mining fiscal regime is built on several revenue streams, not just royalties.

These include mineral royalties, corporate income tax, a Growth and Sustainability Levy, and government equity stakes in mining ventures, each contributing at different phases of mining activity.

The Chamber outlined that royalties range from 5% to 12%, alongside a 1% Growth and Sustainability Levy and a 35% corporate tax on profits. Additionally, the state typically holds a 10% free carried interest in mining operations.

According to the Chamber, this mix allows the government to earn income from both output and profits, demonstrating that the framework goes beyond a simple royalty-based model.

It further emphasized that Ghana’s system is consistent with global practices, where many resource-rich countries use a combination of royalties and profit-based taxes to maximize returns from their natural resources.