Northern Ashanti Mines rejects Minerals Commission’s claim of lawful take over

Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has raised concerns that politically connected individuals are unilaterally taking control of Ghanaian-owned mining companies, without adhering to proper procedures. In an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story, Bentil highlighted Northern Ashanti Mines and Adamus Mines as prime examples of this concerning pattern.

He stated that these takeovers by politically backed individuals, referred to as PEPs, occur without due process, potentially undermining the goal of boosting local participation in the mining sector. Bentil supports the push for Ghanaian ownership of mines, emphasizing that local investors should be incentivized to develop mining assets, rather than facing actions that threaten their investments.

He has reviewed documents related to Northern Ashanti Mines, including permits issued by the Minerals Commission in 2026, which authorized the company to continue its development activities. According to the documents, the company had invested over US$100 million in the mine's development before its license was revoked. Bentil questioned the Minerals Commission's handling of the situation, saying it failed to follow the procedures outlined in Section 68 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

The dispute centers around outstanding statutory fees exceeding US$8.38 million. Bentil, however, noted that he had seen different figures regarding the debt and correspondence where the company contested the debt. He argued that even if the fees were valid, the proper course of action should be negotiation and a payment plan, particularly considering the recent change in ownership of the mine.

"In every system where this happens, you sit down, you negotiate, and have a payment plan," he said. "So even if it were true, that is not grounds for revocation." Bentil also dismissed the idea that a notice from the Minerals Commission in April 2025 constituted proper notice under Section 68. He stressed that the law requires the company to be given a chance to rectify any breaches before its license could be revoked.

"When you give that proper notice, you have to give time for remedial action. And even if they are found culpable, you have to give them time to fix what has gone wrong. None of that has happened," he added. Bentil emphasized the larger issue of local ownership of Ghana's mineral resources and expressed his support for Ghanaian investors acquiring major mining assets.

He warned that the handling of mid-level local mining companies raises concerns about the country's consistent approach to indigenisation. He maintained that promoting local ownership must go hand in hand with protecting investors' rights and ensuring regulatory decisions comply with the law.