{
  "id": 220857,
  "title": "Economic Fighters League criticises approval of 6 mining leases, calls for bigger state stake in Ghana’s gold",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/economic-fighters-league-criticises-approval-of-6-mining-leases-calls",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-06T12:59:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/economic-fighters-league-criticises-approval-of-6-mining-leases-calls-for-bigger-state-stake-in-ghanas-gold/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Economic Fighters League (EFL) has denounced Parliament's endorsement of six mining leases, alleging the government is relinquishing Ghana's mineral wealth to private corporations without bestowing meaningful advantages on the nation. In a statement released on August 5 following Parliament's approval of the leases, the EFL contended that the agreements would permit mining firms to extract gold from over 300 square kilometres of land for up to 25 years without returning substantial gains to Ghanaians. \"Parliament has just surrendered Ghana's gold for another quarter of a century. Six mining leases. Over 300 square kilometres of Ghanaian land. Up to 25 years of extraction,\" the group asserted. The EFL questioned the government's claims that the mining deals would yield significant economic advantages, contending that prior agreements had failed to enhance the well-being of communities impacted by mining. \"We have heard this narrative before,\" the statement proclaimed. \"Communities are left with polluted rivers, deforested landscapes, deserted pits, broken promises, and poverty, while billions of dollars in gold leave our shores.\" A significant concern raised by the EFL was the government's decision not to renegotiate its equity in the Damang Mine. The group argued that increasing the State's ownership from 10% to at least 50% would have ensured that a larger portion of the country's mineral wealth remained within Ghana. \"Most shocking of all is Government’s refusal to renegotiate the State’s equity in the Damang Mine from 10% to at least 50%,\" the statement emphasized. \"That single decision represents a massive transfer of wealth from the Ghanaian people to private interests.\" The EFL also criticized Ghana's stance as a negotiating party on an unfavorable footing, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa. \"A nation rich in gold continues to negotiate like a poor tenant on its own land,\" the group asserted. The EFL rejected the notion that increased national ownership of large-scale mining ventures is impractical due to the high expense of mining equipment and limited technical expertise. \"Whenever we demand national ownership or, at the very least, a controlling stake, we are told the machinery is too expensive, and the expertise is beyond us,\" it remarked. The group questioned why Ghana could not invest in acquiring its own mining capabilities. \"Exactly how expensive are these machines that a sovereign nation of over 35 million people cannot buy anywhere in the world?\" the statement inquired. The EFL proposed a four-year suspension on new large-scale mining concessions to foster local expertise through dedicated mining and mineral engineering programs. \"If the obstacle is technical know-how, why not declare a four-year moratorium on new large-scale concessions, establish specialised mining and mineral engineering programs, and train the brilliant young Ghanaians who every year showcase exceptional talent in our schools and national science and quiz competitions?\" the group proposed. \"Nations are not built by importing competence forever. They are built by creating it.\" The EFL also expressed apprehension over some of the recently approved leases potentially encroaching upon forest reserves. The group criticized Parliament for ratifying the agreements despite acknowledging the environmental concerns. \"Even Parliament’s own committee admits that some of these leases affect forest reserves, yet proceeds to ratify them while merely asking regulators to 'strictly enforce' safeguards,\" the statement lamented. \"Ghanaians have witnessed how that movie ends.\" The EFL reiterated its opposition to the country's extractive development model, arguing that Ghana's mineral resources should be utilized to foster industrialization rather than exporting raw materials. \"The Economic Fighters League rejects this extractive model of development,\" it stated. \"Our minerals must finance industrialization, not perpetual dependency.\" The EFL called for future mining agreements to ensure substantial national ownership, local value addition, transparent contracts, legally binding community benefit agreements, and robust environmental safeguards. \"Ghana does not require more mining leases. Ghana requires ownership, beneficiation, and economic sovereignty. Our gold belongs to the people, not to corporations with 25-year licenses to export our future.\"",
  "summary": "The Economic Fighters League (EFL) has criticised Parliament's ratification of six mining leases, accusing the government of handing over Ghana's mineral wealth to private companies while failing to secure greater benefits for the country.",
  "key_points": [
    "Economic Fighters League denounces six mining leases approval",
    "Government relinquishing Ghana's mineral wealth to private corporations",
    "EFL calls for 50% State stake in Damang Mine"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}