Minority criticises Minerals Commission over alleged ‘shoddy’ mining leases

Parliament's Minority Caucus has expressed concerns over the Minerals Commission's handling of six mining lease agreements recently approved by the House. Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, argued that the Commission failed to conduct proper due diligence before submitting the documents for ratification.

He criticized the agreements, stating they contain "significant inconsistencies and legal defects" that should have been identified and rectified prior to their presentation to Parliament.

Among the approved leases is Damang Gold Limited, currently managed by Engineers and Planners. Ampratwum-Sarpong, also an NPP MP for Mampong, emphasized that Parliament must maintain rigorous scrutiny of such agreements, warning against compromising national interests with defective leases. He contended that the Commission's performance was subpar, lacking the necessary diligence to ensure the lease documents complied with the law and standard operating procedures.

Moreover, Ampratwum-Sarpong highlighted several problematic aspects of the agreements, including the absence of mining operation programs submitted by some companies, which prevented Parliament from assessing crucial information about the development and monitoring of Ghana's mineral resources. Perhaps most concerning, he noted the omission of the Republic of Ghana's mandatory 10 percent free carried interest in several leases.

This interest, belonging to Ghanaian citizens, was neither optional nor discretionary, and its omission raised serious questions about the agreements' legitimacy.

In response to these issues, the Minority Caucus called for a thorough review of the approval process to safeguard the state's long-term interests and ensure full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.