Co-Chair of GHEITI, Dr Steve Manteaw
Natural resource governance expert Steve Manteaw has criticised the Minerals Commission over its handling of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, warning that the regulator’s actions could undermine the government’s drive to promote indigenous participation in the mining sector.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday(28 October), Manteaw called on the Commission to stop what he described as “hawkish hostility” and the targeting of indigenous mining companies, urging authorities to find ways to support Ghanaian-owned mining businesses.
“We cannot be preaching indigenization and be frustrating indigenous mining companies at the same time. Let’s find ways of supporting our own,” he said.
His comments follow a dispute between the Minerals Commission and Northern Ashanti Mines over the termination of the company’s mining lease and prospecting licence in April 2026.
The Commission says the company owed the State more than US$8.38 million in unpaid annual mineral right fees and failed to undertake meaningful mining operations on its concession for more than two years.
However, Northern Ashanti Mines disputes the debt figure, saying an audit communication from the Commission in May 2026 put its debt at about US$2.4 million, separate from a legacy debt attributed to Owere Mines, the previous operator.
The company also denies receiving prior notice of statutory breaches before the termination of its mineral rights. It says it has invested more than US$200 million in the operation since taking over in 2020 and has obtained permits for mine development and related activities.
The Minerals Commission maintains that the termination followed the applicable legal procedures after the company failed to remedy the identified breaches.
