The Minerals Commission has defended its decision to terminate the mining leases and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, formerly Owere Mines, citing more than US$8.38 million in unpaid statutory fees and alleged breaches of Ghana’s mining laws.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Commission said the company failed to settle outstanding annual mineral right fees despite being given an opportunity to remedy the breaches.
The company’s mining lease, acquired in January 2010, covered 595 cadastral blocks. According to the Commission, it owed US$8.33 million in mining lease fees covering 2010 to 2025 and US$49,928 for prospecting licences covering 2019 to 2025.
The Commission also said Northern Ashanti Mines had not undertaken meaningful mining operations on the concession for more than two years, contrary to section 69(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
It said the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources approved the termination notice on April 24, 2026, and the Commission terminated the mineral rights on April 30.
Defending the decision, the Commission said, “The Minerals Commission wishes to categorically state that it acted lawfully and followed due process at every stage. The Company was given every opportunity to regularize its position and yet chose not to. The law is the law. Mineral rights are not an inheritance.”
The Commission said the termination meant the mineral rights reverted to the State but did not cancel the company’s outstanding liabilities.
“Once the mineral rights have been terminated, they reverted to the State as the lawful owner without prejudice to all the liabilities assumed by the company prior to the termination, including the humongous indebtedness. The Commission reserves the right and shall pursue the company to pay all the sums it owes to the State,” it stated.
The Commission also said the State had a responsibility to protect the returned assets from encroachment and illegal activity.
The Commission confirmed that Northern Ashanti Mines had instituted legal proceedings against the State to challenge the termination after acknowledging receipt of the notice.
It criticised the company for seeking public sympathy while the matter was before the courts.
“Having done so, it is improper and contemptuous of the judicial process for the Company to simultaneously resort to the court of public opinion, peddling false narratives and soliciting sympathy for a matter it flagrantly violated,” the statement said.
The Commission maintained that it would continue enforcing Ghana’s mining laws without fear or favour. The company’s legal challenge remains before the courts.
