By: Felix Cofie
The Minerals Commission has defended the termination of the mining leases and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, formerly Owere Mines, citing outstanding statutory fees exceeding US$8.3 million and a prolonged lack of meaningful mining operations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Commission said the termination was carried out in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2176), and the terms of the company’s agreements.
The Commission accused the company of persistently breaching Ghanaian mining laws and failing to settle its outstanding obligations despite being given the opportunity to do so.
Company owed more than $8.3 million
According to the Commission, Northern Ashanti Mines acquired a mining lease covering 595 cadastral blocks in January 2010 for its Owere Mines operations.
Under the lease agreement and Section 24 of Act 703, the company was required to pay Annual Mineral Right (AMR) fees to the Commission.
However, the Commission said the company failed to pay its outstanding fees for the mining leases covering the period from 2010 to 2025, as well as fees relating to prospecting licences from 2019 to 2025.
The outstanding amount for the mining leases stood at US$8.33 million, while the prospecting licences attracted an additional US$49,928.
The Commission said it issued notices to remedy the breaches on April 14, 2025, under Section 68(2) of Act 703 and Regulation 200(3) of L.I. 2176.
It added that the company failed to settle the amounts owed within the stipulated period.
Commission cites inactivity at mining concession
Beyond the outstanding fees, the Commission said investigations established that Northern Ashanti Mines had not undertaken meaningful mining operations on the concession for more than two years.
It said the inactivity contravened Section 69(1) of Act 703.
Following the company’s failure to remedy the breaches, the Commission said it notified the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on April 7, 2026, requesting the issuance of a termination notice.
According to the statement, the Minister approved the issuance of the notice on April 24, 2026, and the Commission proceeded with the termination on April 30, 2026.
The Commission maintained that the process followed the relevant legal procedures and that the company had been given sufficient opportunity to regularise its position.
Mineral rights revert to the State
The Minerals Commission said the termination means the mineral rights have reverted to the State, which it described as their lawful owner.
However, it stressed that the termination does not absolve the company of liabilities incurred before the cancellation of its mineral rights.
The Commission said it would pursue the recovery of all outstanding amounts owed to the State.
It also indicated that the State had a responsibility to protect the assets that had reverted to it from being dissipated or taken over by encroachers and other illegal actors.
The Commission referred to Section 70 of Act 703, which provides for the status of mining assets following the termination of mineral rights.
Commission responds to company’s legal action
The Commission further disclosed that Northern Ashanti Mines had instituted legal proceedings against the State to challenge the termination.
It said the company had acknowledged receipt of the termination notice before initiating the court action.
The Commission criticised what it described as the company’s media campaign to solicit public sympathy, arguing that the matter was already before a court of competent jurisdiction.
It maintained that the company should not seek to influence public opinion while pursuing legal action over the same dispute.
“The law is the law,” the Commission stated, insisting that all holders of mineral rights must comply with statutory requirements, including the payment of fees and the undertaking of meaningful mining operations.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing Ghana’s mining laws without fear or favour, adding that it would not be distracted by what it described as media theatrics.
