{
  "id": 17103994,
  "title": "Minerals Commission urges Northern Ashanti Mines to pursue lease dispute in court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/minerals-commission-urges-northern-ashanti-mines-to-pursue-lease",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T18:07:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/minerals-commission-urges-northern-ashanti-mines-to-pursue-lease-dispute-in-court/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Minerals Commission has advised Northern Ashanti Mines Limited to take their legal dispute over the termination of their mining leases and prospecting licences to court instead of using the media. The Commission claims the company is engaging in a public campaign and should resolve the issue through the judicial system. At a press conference on Thursday, October 29, the Commission's Chief Executive Officer, Isaac Tandoh, stated that the company acknowledged the termination notice but opted for legal action while continuing to make public statements. Tandoh pointed out the company's lawsuit against the Minister responsible for Mines, the Minerals Commission, and the Attorney General contradicted any claim of seeking dialogue. Instead, he described it as a company seeking to litigate in court and media simultaneously, which he deemed improper and contemptuous of the judicial process. The Commission’s stance follows an operation on October 22, where their officers, accompanied by military personnel, entered the company's concession to enforce the termination of its mining lease. The decision to terminate was based on the company's failure to pay statutory fees and not conduct mining operations for over two years. According to Tandoh, the termination was conducted in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012, and the agreements governing the company's mineral rights. The company owes the Commission US$8.33 million in unpaid Annual Mineral Right (AMR) fees for leases from 2010 to 2025 and US$49,928 for prospecting licences from 2019 to 2025. Tandoh emphasized that the Commission followed the required procedures and provided the company with multiple chances to settle its outstanding obligations. The termination resulted in the mineral rights reverting to the state, but the company remains responsible for prior liabilities. The Commission stated that Ghana's mineral resources belong to its people, and all holders of mineral rights must meet their statutory obligations.",
  "summary": "The Minerals Commission has urged Northern Ashanti Mines Limited to pursue its legal challenge against the termination of its mining leases and prospecting licences through the courts rather than the media. The Commission accused the company of engaging in a public campaign over the decision, insisting that the dispute should be resolved through the judicial […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Minerals Commission defends termination of Northern Ashanti Mines’ licences over $8.38m debt",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/minerals-commission-defends-termination-of-northern-ashanti-mines",
        "published": "2026-10-27T13:15:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}