Serious questions are mounting over whether Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah is undermining President John Dramani Mahama’s directives on the mining sector.
The controversy stems from Kofi Buah’s handling of the three indigenous mines, including the Adamus Resources dispute, Narawa and Northern Ashanti, with allegations that the ministry’s actions are working against the government’s commitment to promoting Ghanaian ownership of local mines.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points, Private legal practitioner and IMANI Africa Vice-President Kofi Bentil accused Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah of undermining President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to promote Ghanaian ownership in the mining sector.
Mr Bentil criticised the minister’s handling of three indigenous mines, alleging that his actions contradict the President’s instructions on resolving the matter.
He argued that the government’s approach to the dispute raises questions about its commitment to expanding local participation in the mining industry, particularly at a time when it has pledged to increase Ghanaian ownership of mining assets.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points, Bentil alleged that the minister had introduced a new set of procedures that contradicted the President’s instructions, preventing Adamus from regaining control of its mine.
The lawyer further alleged that the Lands Minister had acted contrary to the President’s instructions on how the Adamus dispute should be resolved.
He stated, “Minerals Commission, you are a statutory body under law; you can just get up and be saying things without any proof. You just don’t talk; show us the letter you sent them instead of this bizarre way you go after Adamus, the President intervenes”.
“The letter the President wrote you signed: Kwakye Ofosu. I have seen the minister write another letter and totally rubbish what the President said, given his own instruction about how the thing should be done against the President,” he added.
According to Bentil, the President had directed the formation of a six-member committee to supervise the process and ensure Adamus regained its mine, resumed operations, raised funds to settle its outstanding obligations and regularised its position under government supervision.
“Adamus today have not been given their mine back. The minister has written a different set of rules and regulations by which they would proceed. The president said a six-member committee. Adamus has to take back their mine, run their mine and raise the money, pay what they owe and regularise this thing with the supervision of the government.
“It is not for the government to take over the mine and run it how they like. They are tying the person’s hands behind his back and asking them to work,” he said.
Kofi Bentil, beyond the Adamus dispute, accused government institutions, including the Minerals Commission, the Ministry and the military, of actions that he believes are undermining Ghanaian businesses and local ownership.
“The principle I’m trying to put across is that today we have a situation where, by the workings of government institutions like Minerals Commission, the Ministry and the Army, Ghana is looking like a failed state,” he said.
He alleged that local mining interests were being displaced in favour of Chinese operators.
“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 added.
Bentil cited developments at Narawa, where he claimed chiefs and residents were unhappy over the destruction of rubber plantations and the displacement of local interests.
“In the case of Narawa, the Chiefs are crying; the people are crying; you go and destroy people’s rubber plantation, and when the guy was asked, he says we are working for the government. A Chinese man says he is working for the government, displacing a Ghanaian in Ghana,” he said.
He further alleged that Chinese operators had moved into areas, cut roads and damaged plantations in locations where they were not authorised to operate.
“Our government is taking local assets and is giving them to Chinese people. Nobody can do these things without political power and cover,” Bentil added.
Also, Kofi Bentil questioned the Minerals Commission’s claims that Northern Ashanti owed about $8 million, arguing that the authorities had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support their position.
He stated, “Minerals Commission is making wild statements and shows you zero proof, nothing, everything the company is saying they have shown you proof. I have seen the document on the $2.4 million by the auditors and the Minerals Commission putting that number there”.
Bentil also questioned why the authorities were pursuing the alleged debt through the takeover of the mine rather than the courts.
“They know that this mine was taken over by this new company; they have been working at the place for two 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 stated.
He argued that the handling of the dispute contradicted the government’s stated commitment to increasing Ghanaian ownership of the mining sector, insisting that local operators with years of experience should be supported rather than undermined.
“I am on record to say give the mines to Ghanaians; by the way, Nguvu Mines is worth about $4 million, and Northern Ashanti is part of Nguvu. That mining group has been around for 20 years.
“Angela List has been around for 20 years; what it means is that before you came, people were there doing their work quietly. Then you say you are going to give more; then you are the one destroying it,” he said.
Bentil added that Ghana had made significant progress in indigenous mining ownership over the years.
“We have been talking and talking 150 years of mining in Ghana; we have never had ownership of a Ghanaian mine the way we have today. So I don’t get the point,” he said.
Ultimately, the controversy raises serious questions about whether Kofi Buah is acting in line with President Mahama’s vision for the mining sector.
While the allegations against the Lands Minister remain contested, concerns over Adamus Resources, Narawa and Northern Ashanti dispute and the treatment of Ghanaian-owned mining interests continue to put the minister’s decisions under scrutiny.
Howeverm ff the President Mahama’s directive is clear, why do the Lands minister’s actions appear to be pointing in a different direction?
Watch the video below:
I watched this video & I am extremely sad & angry at the same time. This is pure evil & state capture. 3 indigenous mines including Adamus, Narawa & Northern Ashanti have all been taken over by the government & given to Alfred Mahama (president Mahama’s brother) & Chinese. https://t.co/kHbe6wLDF3
— 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗰𝗺𝗮𝗻 (@Shac_man_) October 31, 2026
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