Konongo, Juansa chiefs back revocation of Northern Ashanti Mines license
Traditional authorities in Konongo and Juansa have backed the revocation of the mining license of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited in its catchment. They cite poor performance, environmental degradation and neglect of responsibilities towards local communities. This comes after the Minerals Commission terminated the company’s mineral rights following allegations that portions of the concession were…
The traditional authorities in Konongo and Juansa have given their support to the revocation of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited's mining license in their region. They have cited poor performance, environmental damage, and failure to fulfill obligations to local communities. This follows the termination of the company's mineral rights by the Minerals Commission, which alleged illegal mining activities on the concession. The mine is currently non-operational, and staff have been asked to vacate the site.
Chief Nana Dr. Awuah Abedimsa II of Konongo backs the decision, stating that the Minerals Commission is responsible for mining and has performance indicators to measure company performance. He believes the mine lacked the resources to mine the deposits, leading to environmental degradation. Chief Nana Tweneboah Kodua Bempah of Juansa also supports a reset, emphasizing the need for responsible mining to protect water bodies crucial for farming.
The lease was originally granted to Owere Mines in January 2010 and covered 595 cadastral blocks. The company was required to pay annual mineral right fees, but failed to do so.
The Minerals Commission has been persistent in its approach, issuing a notice to remedy the breach in May 2020 when arrears exceeded $4 million. Despite transitioning to BCM Investments, the company failed to meet its payment plan, and debt rose significantly from $5.5 million in October 2022 to $8.33 million for mining leases plus $49,928 for prospecting licenses by April 2025.
On April 7, 2026, the Commission deemed the breach flagrant and deliberate, requesting the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to terminate the rights. The government approved the termination, and the rights have since been terminated. The Commission rejects claims about the $8 million figure and disputes the company's payment of $1 million, stating that only $300,000 was paid.
The terminated rights will revert to the State, which will secure the assets and pursue outstanding liabilities.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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