Narawa mining dispute: CMS-PRO, A&A Southern insist leases followed due process

CMS-PRO Industries & Construction Limited and A&A Southern Industries Limited have defended their acquisition of mining leases covering the Nsutam and Osiem concession areas, insisting that their applications were processed through established regulatory channels. The companies have also rejected claims that they deployed armed men and National Security personnel to raid the concessions, describing the claims as serious accusations that should not be treated as established facts without credible evidence.

In a joint statement issued on October 31, 2026, the two firms said their applications followed engagements with the Minerals Commission and subsequent approvals by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. The statement comes amid public commentary questioning the circumstances under which the government granted the companies mining leases associated with Narawa Mining Company Limited.

The companies said the controversy should be assessed against official records and the legal framework governing mineral rights, rather than what they described as unsubstantiated allegations. Companies cite Minerals Commission correspondence According to the statement, their engagement with the Minerals Commission began with inquiries into the administrative status of the Osiem and Nsutam concession areas associated with Narawa Mining Company Limited.

The companies said a response from the Commission dated September 5, 2025, outlined Narawa’s compliance with its regulatory obligations and the status of the leases. They stated that the Commission had identified outstanding obligations, including the payment of mineral right fees, and indicated that certain breaches had not been remedied within the stipulated 120-day period.

The Commission, according to the companies, described the leases as “not to be in good standing, albeit valid” and said applications for the areas would be considered on a “first-come-first-considered basis.” The firms said that correspondence informed their understanding of the administrative position and guided their subsequent applications through the regulatory process.

Applications and ministerial approval The statement said CMS-PRO’s application, referenced APL-M-246, was received by the Minerals Commission on September 26, 2025, and covered the Nsutam area within the Fanteakwa South and Abuakwa North districts of the Eastern Region. A&A Southern Industries’ application, referenced APL-M-247, was received on the same date and covered approximately 22.72 square kilometres, comprising 108 blocks in the Osiem area.

The companies said the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources approved the Minerals Commission’s recommendations for the respective applications in letters dated August 5, 2026. They added that the Commission issued Notices of Grant of Mining Lease to both companies on August 13, 2026. CMS-PRO’s notice covered the Nsutam concession and specified a mineral right fee of US$362,700, in addition to the applicable annual ground rent.

A&A Southern Industries also received a notice of grant and invoices for the relevant statutory fees and charges. The firms said they had made payments against the invoices issued by the Commission. “These documented steps demonstrate that our applications were processed through the established regulatory channels. We did not bypass the application process or independently confer mineral rights upon ourselves,” the statement said.

They maintained that they had relied on formal communications and decisions issued by the institutions responsible for administering mineral rights. Beyond the dispute over the leases, the companies said they remained committed to developing the mining asset and unlocking its economic potential. They said that would require adequate financial resources, technical expertise and responsible investment, alongside efforts to create sustainable employment opportunities for surrounding communities and Ghana as a whole.

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