Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has upheld the revocation of three mining leases belonging to Adamus Resources Limited. This decisive action follows a comprehensive review by an Inter-Ministerial Committee, which examined a petition from the company against the initial revocation.
The affected leases are the Akango, Salman, and Nkroful concessions. These were initially revoked in April 2026 based on recommendations from the Minerals Commission. Inspections by the Commission revealed material breaches of Ghana's mining laws and regulations by Adamus Resources.
This development underscores Ghana's commitment to enforcing mining regulations and ensuring compliance within its extractive sector. The government aims to protect its natural resources and ensure that mining operations benefit the state and its citizens. This action sends a clear signal to other mining companies about the importance of adhering to legal and environmental standards.
The Minerals Commission stated that Adamus Resources assigned portions of its mineral rights to foreign nationals without the required written approval from the minister. The company also undertook mining activities outside permitted areas without an approved Operating Permit. Furthermore, the Commission found that Adamus Resources began operations without obtaining necessary environmental and forestry approvals.
The review committee also raised serious concerns about the company’s cooperation with the Interim Management Committee established to oversee the mine. According to the committee, Adamus concealed information and provided misleading data during the review process. This lack of transparency further complicated the resolution of the issues.
The committee identified significant outstanding financial obligations from Adamus Resources. These include US$ 2.56 million in mineral rights fees, GHS 86.8 million in royalties, and GHS 290.5 million in tax arrears. The total outstanding financial obligations amount to GHS 377.3 million, excluding the mineral rights fees. The committee also found unexplained differences in gold exports and noted that US$ 224 million had been transferred to related parties outside Ghana between 2020 and 2024. The company’s environmental bonds were also only partially fulfilled, indicating a failure to meet critical environmental commitments.
Following the final decision, Minister Buah and officials from the Lands Ministry and Minerals Commission visited the mine. They engaged with workers and other stakeholders to address concerns and ensure continuity. The minister assured workers that the Minerals Commission would work to ensure uninterrupted operations until the government announces its next decision regarding the concessions. He also stated his intention to secure a court order requiring Adamus Resources to settle its outstanding royalties, taxes, and other financial obligations to the state. This move aims to recover significant revenue for Ghana.