Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has been accused of facilitating the takeover of Ghanaian-owned mining concessions and handing them over to Chinese nationals, with claims that one such transfer happened within 12 hours of a mine being seized.
The allegations form part of growing concerns within Ghana’s mining sector over the handling of three indigenous mining concessions: Adamus, Narawa and Northern Ashanti.
The mining companies linked to the disputes have raised concerns about government interventions at their mining sites, alleged disregard for legal processes and the possible transfer of control to Chinese operators.
Narawa Company Limited has called on the government and relevant state agencies to urgently intervene in what it describes as a violent takeover of its mining concession, involving alleged killings, armed robbery, destruction of property and continuing illegal mining activities.
In a press briefing Narawa also questioned the presence of military personnel at the concession and called on the Ghana Armed Forces to clarify their identities, deployment authority and mandate.
Narawa further alleged that about 13 groups of operators, reportedly involving Chinese nationals, were currently undertaking mining activities at the concession.
The company described the activities as unauthorised and warned that they were rapidly degrading the land.
In the case of Northern Ashanti Mines, the company has accused officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Minerals Commission of introducing Chinese nationals to its Konongo concession after the company was allegedly forced out.
Northern Ashanti Mines has also alleged that attempts were made to disconnect CCTV cameras at the site after footage purportedly showed the Chinese nationals being introduced to the concession.
Also, similar concerns had earlier emerged in the disputes involving Adamus and Narawa, where mining lease revocations and government interventions have triggered accusations of unfair treatment, disregard for court processes and the displacement of local interests.
Private legal practitioner and IMANI Africa Vice-President Kofi Bentil, speaking on TV3’s The Key Points, criticised the government’s handling of the disputes, accusing the Minerals Commission and the Lands Ministry of undermining Ghanaian mining businesses.
Kofi Bentil particularly questioned the Minerals Commission’s claims concerning the financial obligations of Northern Ashanti Mines, arguing that the Commission had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its position.
He stated, “Minerals Commission is making wild statements and shows you zero proof, nothing, everything the company is saying they have shown you prove. I have seen the document on the $2.4 million by the auditors and the Minerals Commission putting that number there.
“They know that this mine was taken over by this new company; they have been working at the place for 2 years. You claim they owe you 8 million; the people have spent 100 million. How does that square? Clearly, they can pay you that money.
“The law says when you have a debt, and it is established, you recover it in court,” he said.
Bentil also accused the Lands Minister of disregarding President John Dramani Mahama’s instructions on the Adamus dispute, claiming that the minister had introduced a different approach to resolving the matter.
The IMANI Africa Vice-President argued that the government’s actions were inconsistent with its stated commitment to expanding Ghanaian ownership in the mining industry.
He accused state institutions, including the Minerals Commission, the Lands Ministry and the military, of facilitating the takeover of local mining assets and their transfer to Chinese interests.
Kofi Bentil stated, “The principle I’m trying to put across is that today we have a situation where, by the workings of government institutions like the Minerals Commission, the Ministry and the Army, Ghana is looking like a failed state.
“The government is taking over local mines and giving them to the Chinese; Ghana is looking like a failed state; you go like bandits, shoot people, take over their mines and give it to Chinese,” he said.
He further cited the dispute at Narawa; he claimed that local communities and traditional leaders had raised concerns over the destruction of rubber plantations and the arrival of Chinese operators.
Bentil concluded by questioning the political backing behind the alleged transfers of local mining assets to foreign operators.
“Our government is taking local assets and is giving them to Chinese people. Nobody can do these things without political power and cover,” he said.
Meanwhile, the allegations have not been established that the Lands Minister personally seized a mine or that any concession was formally transferred to Chinese nationals within 12 hours.
The disputes involve competing claims over mining rights, regulatory action and control of the affected sites.
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