Government has directed the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission and Adamus Resources Limited to produce a 12-month roadmap for restoring the fortunes of the mine.
The plan will be overseen by a six-member management team, with three representatives appointed by Adamus and three from the Government side. The two parties are expected to submit the roadmap to the Presidency within two weeks.
The directive follows a meeting at the Presidency aimed at resolving the dispute between the Government and Adamus Resources and securing the future of one of the few indigenous large-scale mines still operating in Ghana.
In a statement issued on 21 August, Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said: “The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Minerals Commission and Adamus Resources Limited have been asked by Government to present a twelve-month road map for turning the mine around.”
He added: “The road map will include a six-member management team formed between Adamus and Government to supervise the turnaround of the mine. The membership of the committee will include three members from the Adamus side and three members from the Government side.”
The proposed plan is also expected to address Adamus Resources’ financial obligations to the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Minerals Income Investment Fund, financial institutions and suppliers.
It will further examine options for bringing in additional capital, including the possibility of inviting new partners to acquire equity in the mining operation.
The Government’s latest move comes amid a conflict over the revocation of three mining leases held by Adamus Resources for the Akango, Salman and Nkroful concessions.
On 12 August, the company rejected the Government’s decision to uphold the revocation, describing it as unlawful and fundamentally flawed. Adamus said it intended to challenge the decision.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah had confirmed the final revocation of the leases. In response, Adamus said it was shocked and disappointed, arguing that the action had been taken “without regard to any of the statutory procedures laid down in the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703)”.
The company also denied the allegations underpinning the revocation, calling them “unfounded, contrived, and deliberately manufactured”. Adamus said the claims had been created to “strongarm the company in order to deprive it of its leases”.
It accused the Minister of an “abuse of power wrapped in the absolute disregard of law in the process leading to the contemptible revocation of its leases”.
The Government’s decision was based on the findings of a Ministerial Review Committee, which largely upheld breaches initially identified by the Minerals Commission.
The committee said Adamus had carried out mining outside its permitted areas without obtaining the required Operating Permit, in breach of Regulations 200(1)(b) and 200(1)(d) of L.I. 2176.
It also found that the company had subleased parts of its concessions to foreign nationals for independent mining activities without first obtaining written approval from the Minister, contrary to Section 14(1) of Act 703.
The review cited substantial unpaid liabilities, including US$2.56 million in mineral rights fees, GH¢86.8 million in royalties and GH¢290.5 million in tax arrears.
It also reported unexplained discrepancies in gold exports and said US$224 million had been transferred to related parties outside Ghana between 2020 and 2024.
Adamus continues to argue that the Minister did not follow the legally required process for cancelling a mineral right.
“ Under the Minerals and Mining Act, the Minister’s power to revoke leases, while granted by Section 5(1) of Act 703, must be exercised in accordance with the law. This requires the Minister to notify the holder of breaches and allow a minimum of 120 days to address them before proceeding with revocation.”
The company says that requirement was ignored. It has indicated that it will take “cogent steps” to “shred this baseless revocation”, suggesting that legal proceedings may follow, and has promised to update the Ghanaian public on its actions.
The Minister has meanwhile instructed the Minerals Commission to assume immediate administrative control of the mine to keep operations running.
The Government has also said it intends to seek a court order requiring Adamus Resources to settle its outstanding financial obligations.
