Adamus Resources Limited has rejected the revocation of its three major mining leases Akango, Salman and Nkroful by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, describing the decision as unlawful and contrary to procedures prescribed under Ghana’s mining laws.
The leases were upheld for revocation in August 2026 following a ministerial review into the company’s operations and compliance with its statutory obligations.
In a statement, Adamus Resources said it received the decision with “shock and disappointment”, arguing that the process leading to the withdrawal of its mineral rights did not comply with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
The company’s challenge follows findings by a ministerial review committee of significant regulatory and financial breaches.
According to the Ministry, the review identified US$2.56 million in unpaid mineral rights fees, GH¢290.5 million in tax arrears and GH¢86.8 million in unpaid royalties.
The committee also raised concerns about alleged concealment of information, the provision of misleading data and incomplete fulfilment of environmental bond requirements.
Further findings reportedly included unexplained variances in gold exports and substantial related-party transfers of funds abroad between 2020 and 2024.
Despite the findings, Adamus Resources has rejected the allegations and questioned the legality of the process that led to the revocation.
The company accused the Lands and Natural Resources Minister of failing to follow statutory procedures governing the withdrawal of mining leases.
“Adamus Resources Limited has received with shock and disappointment the decision of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, to unlawfully revoke the mining leases of the firm,” the company said.
It further alleged that the action amounted to an abuse of power and was taken with an “absolute disregard of law.”
The company described the allegations against it as “unfounded, contrived and deliberately manufactured”, claiming they were intended to pressure the firm and deprive it of its mineral rights.
“The company categorically denies all the allegations levelled against it and aptly describes them as unfounded, contrived and deliberately manufactured to strongarm the company in order to deprive it of its leases,” it said.
Adamus Resources did not, in its statement, provide a detailed response to the specific financial liabilities cited by the Ministry or explain the reported discrepancies involving gold exports, related-party transfers and environmental bonds.
Following the revocation, the Minerals Commission was directed to take over and supervise operations at the affected mine site to ensure continuity.
The Ministry has also announced plans to seek court orders compelling Adamus Resources to settle its outstanding tax, royalty and mineral rights obligations to the state.
The dispute could therefore extend beyond the validity of the lease revocations to the recovery of the amounts the government says remain outstanding.
Adamus Resources said it is preparing to challenge the Minister’s decision but did not disclose the specific legal action it intends to pursue.
The company said it would provide further details in the coming days.
“The good people of Ghana will be apprised of the cogent steps the company is taking to shred this baseless revocation in the coming days,” the statement said.
The dispute has brought renewed attention to the enforcement of financial, environmental and regulatory obligations within Ghana’s mining sector, as well as the legal safeguards governing the revocation of mineral rights.
While the Ministry maintains that its decision followed a formal review and was justified by serious breaches identified by the committee, Adamus Resources insists that the allegations are baseless and that due process was not followed.
The company has not identified the specific provisions of Act 703 it believes were breached or disclosed the precise remedies it intends to seek.
With Adamus preparing a legal challenge and the Ministry planning court action to recover alleged outstanding obligations, the matter is expected to enter a more formal legal phase, with potential implications for the affected mining operations, state revenue recovery and the wider regulation of Ghana’s mining industry.
By 1960news.com
