Isaac Tandoh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, has announced that officials of Adamus Resources Limited will face criminal prosecution following their involvement in illegal mining activities (galamsey).
According to the CEO of the Minerals Commission, they are working with the Attorney-General to prosecute Adamus officials.
He detailed that some Chinese illegal miners got arrested at their mine, and Adamus officials went back to bail these Chinese nationals, which raises serious concerns.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, April 27, 2026, Isaac Tandoh stated, “So yes, the Chinese nationals got arrested, and the unfortunate thing is that Adamus officials went back to bail these Chinese nationals. So I think we don’t get the gravity of the situation”.
“If we have arrested illegal Chinese miners on your mine and you go around to go and bail them, I mean, what are you telling us as a country?” he asked.
“So that is why we said there is also a portion we’ve cancelled the lease, but there is that prosecution portion, that criminal portion that we are going to follow. We are working with the Attorney-General,” he stated.
He noted, “If your lease is gone, your lease is gone. We are not using any… It’s no longer your property, and it’s a lease. It wasn’t sold to Adamus. It belongs to the government”.
“I said we gave you a lease. It’s… we didn’t sell it to you. It’s for the government. So if you stop following rules, those leases revert back to the government,” he added.
“If your assets are fully depreciated, they get back to the government. Those that are not fully depreciated, we work through the numbers, and if there should be compensation, we will deal with that,” he said.
The development comes on the heels of the government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, revoking the mining lease of Adamus Resources.
On Sunday, April 26, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources made this announcement.
The Land Ministry’s actions follow investigations by the Minerals Commission.
According to the Land Ministry, Adamus Resources’ mining lease was revoked for engaging in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The Lands Ministry detailed that the decision was based on findings that Adamus engaged in unauthorised mining operations and multiple regulatory breaches.
These multiple regulatory breaches include subcontracting mining activities without ministerial approval in violation of Section 14 of the Minerals and Mining Act, operating without approved mining plans and permits from the Chief Inspector of Mines, and failing to secure required environmental approvals.
Also, the investigations claimed the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining activities, operations outside approved concession areas, and significant environmental damage, including threats to water bodies and ecosystems.
They further cited the severity of the violations, adding that the Minister acted on the recommendation of the Minerals Commission under Section 100(2) of Act 703, stating that the revocation was necessary in the public interest.
“In view of the gravity and deliberate nature of these breaches… immediate revocation of the mineral rights is warranted in the public interest,” the Ministry said.
According to the Lands Ministry, the decision does not prohibit possible criminal prosecution of the company, its directors, and management, adding that measures would be taken to protect affected workers.
The Lands Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to tackling illegal mining and enforcing strict compliance across Ghana’s mining sector.
Meanwhile, Adamus Resources Limited has rejected the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, announcing a revocation of the company’s mining leases following investigations by the Minerals Commission.
According to Adamus Resources Limited, the decision was taken without due process and is based on allegations, maintaining that it operates as a duly licensed entity under valid permits issued within Ghana’s regulatory framework.
The company also raised concerns about what it described as a breach of due process, highlighting that it was neither formally notified of the allegations nor allowed to respond.
In a statement, Adamus Resources Limited revealed it had taken note of the revocation of its leases covering the Akango, Salman, and Nkroful concessions and was responding “in the interest of accuracy and public clarity.”
The statement stated, “The company strongly rejects the allegations that have been cited as the basis for the revocation and states that they do not reflect the true facts surrounding its operations”.
“The company was not formally notified of the specific allegations and was not afforded the opportunity to address the same as required by the mining laws of Ghana,” it stated, adding that the move undermines “established principles of fairness and administrative justice”.
“The company categorically denies any involvement in illegal mining activities or unlawful subcontracting,” it said, adding that it remains committed to “strict adherence to Ghana’s laws and regulations.”
They further disclosed that they are engaging relevant authorities to resolve the matter and are confident that “a full and fair examination of the facts will demonstrate its compliance with applicable law.”
Adamus further signalled its intention to take all necessary steps to protect its legal rights, adding that they are maintaining constructive engagement with stakeholders.
