The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has upheld the revocation of three mining leases held by Adamus Resources Limited following the submission of the final report by the Inter-Ministerial Committee tasked with reviewing the company’s petition against the initial decision.
The Minister’s final determination brings to a close a review process that was initiated after the Minister, acting on the recommendation of the Minerals Commission, revoked the Akango, Salman and Nkroful mining leases of Adamus Resources Limited in April 2026. The initial revocation followed series of inspections conducted by the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission which uncovered sustained and material breaches of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and its subsidiary legislations.
The Minerals Commission’s initial investigations established multiple violations by Adamus Resources Limited including the unauthorised assignment of mineral rights. The company subleased portions of its concessions to foreign nationals for independent mining operations without the prior written approval of the Minister, contrary to section 14(1) of Act 703, and mining outside demarcated and permitted areas without an approved Operating Permit from the Chief Inspector of Mines, in contravention of Regulations 200(1)(b) and 200(1)(d) of the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2176). The Commission also established that Adamus had failed to obtain requisite environmental and forestry approvals from the Environmental Protection Authority before operations commenced in the assigned areas, contrary to section 18 of Act 703.
Adamus also failed to cooperate with the Interim Management Committee (IMC) established to oversee the mine. The review committee found that Adamus deliberately concealed information and provided misleading data. It also uncovered additional defaults: US$2.56 million in unpaid mineral rights fees, GHS 86.8 million in unpaid royalties, GHS 290.5 million in tax arrears, and unexplained variances in gold exports. The company transferred US$224 million to related parties abroad between 2020 and 2024, and environmental bonds remain only partially fulfilled.
Following this decision, the Minister and officials of the Ministry and the Minerals Commission embarked on a working visit to the mine site to engage key stakeholders including workers of the mine. During the visit, the Minister assured that the Minerals Commission will ensure uninterrupted operations until a further decision by government has been announced.
Hon. Buah has also indicated his intention to secure an order that Adamus fully and promptly fulfils its royalty, tax and other financial liabilities to the Government of Ghana.
