Ghana Minerals Commission revokes Northern Ashanti Mines licences

The Minerals Commission of Ghana has terminated the mineral rights and prospecting licences of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, formerly known as Owere Mines. The regulator cited a failure to pay approximately US$8.33 million in Annual Mineral Right fees between 2010 and 2025, alongside US$49,928 in prospecting licence arrears. The Commission also alleged the company failed to conduct meaningful mining operations for over two years.

Northern Ashanti Mines has rejected these claims, describing the Commission’s statements as containing "falsehoods, untruths and half-truths." The company disputes the debt amount, arguing much of it is a legacy obligation from previous operators, and maintains it did not receive the required statutory notice of breach. The company has initiated legal action against the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and the Attorney-General.

In response to the litigation and public statements from the company, Minerals Commission CEO Isaac Tandoh urged the firm to resolve the dispute through the judicial process rather than the media. Meanwhile, Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has raised concerns regarding a perceived trend of politically connected individuals seizing Ghanaian-owned mines, suggesting that such regulatory actions could undermine local indigenisation efforts.