By Maxwell Woyram Tsigbe
The Minerals Commission has defended the revocation of the mining leases of Adamus Resources Limited, stressing that the decision was necessitated by what it describes as “systemic and flagrant violation” of Ghana’s mining laws rather than political expediency.
This follows an earlier directive by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who announced the Government’s decision to revoke the Akango, Salman, and Nkroful mining leases previously held by Adamus. Issued on Sunday, April 26, 2026, the press statement which contained the directive, stressed that the decision was based on findings by the Minerals Commission which uncovered widespread unauthorised activities.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 27, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, maintained that a routine inspections and investigations conducted by the Inspectorate Division of the Commission established that Adamus Resources Limited unlawfully assigned portions of its mineral rights to third parties without prior ministerial consent, in direct breach of Section 14 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
According to Mr. Tandoh, Adamus and its Directors would face prosecution under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995) if found culpable.
*The investigation established the following critical violations:*
* Adamus Resources Limited unlawfully assigned portions of its mineral rights to third parties without obtaining prior ministerial consent, in breach of Section 14 of Act 703.
* The Company released three out of four concession areas for mining operations-namely the Nkroful, Akango, and Salman mining leases-outside its approved mining areas and without access to its processing infrastructure.
* No mineral resources or reserves were defined in the released areas to justify any legally sanctioned contract mining operations.
* Active mining preparations and operations were observed at the Akango and Salman concessions using excavators and bulldozers, without approved mining operating plans or permits from the Chief
Inspector of Mines.
* On the Akango concession, clearing had been completed for the commencement of mining operations, with three excavators and one bulldozer operational during the site inspection. Foreign nationals, specifically Chinese nationals, were engaged in illegal mining activities (“galamsey”) at a site located “several kilometres” from Adamus’ mine infrastructure, with no access road to the Company’s processing plant-contravening Section 99(5)(a) and (b) of Act 995.
* At the Salman concession, clearing had also been done for the installation of a processing plant and the commencement of mining
operations. Eight excavators and one bulldozer were observed undertaking preparatory earthworks. Here too, Chinese nationals without permit were engaged in operations at a site more than “4 kilometres” from Adamus’ mine site, with no direct access to the Company’s mine infrastructure.
* The mining activities were substandard, environmentally destructive, and inconsistent with accepted industry practices, causing significant environmental degradation, including land disturbance and risks to water bodies. Such unlawful activities also deprive the Republic of legitimately earned mining revenue and pose serious public health risks through the use of unregulated chemicals and pollutants, leading to soil and water contamination.
On these grounds, Mr. Isaac Tandoh, justified and depoliticized the revocation saying, “… this decision was neither arbitrary nor politically motivated. It was a lawful, evidence-based action taken to protect Ghana’s natural resources, environment, and public interest. It was a direct consequence of persistent violations of the country’s minerals and mining regime by Adamus Resources Limited.”
He concluded by reiterating the Commission’s commitment to ensuring compliance to regulatory principles by mining corporations to promote responsible mining and economic growth of the country, and pledges to work with the Ministry to safeguard lawful jobs affected by the licence revocation, and would update the public on transitional measures in due course.
