Kofi Bentil alleges politically connected persons are taking over Ghanaian-owned mines

The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has alleged that politically connected individuals are taking over Ghanaian-owned mining companies without due process, warning that the trend could undermine efforts to increase local participation in the mining sector. Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, he cited Northern Ashanti Mines and Adamus Mines as examples of what he described as a worrying pattern involving indigenous mining companies operating outside the large-scale mining segment dominated by foreign investors.

“There’s a trend of politicians and people backed by politically known persons, what we call PEPs, who are seizing these mines. And they are seizing it without due process,” he said. Mr Bentil said he supported efforts to promote Ghanaian ownership of mines, arguing that local investors should be encouraged to develop mining assets rather than face actions that threaten their investments.

He said he had examined documents relating to Northern Ashanti Mines, including permits issued by the Minerals Commission in 2026 authorising the company to continue its development activities. He also said documents available to him indicated that the company had invested more than US$100 million in developing the mine before its licence was revoked.

Mr Bentil questioned the Commission’s handling of the matter, insisting that it had failed to follow the procedures required under Section 68 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). The Commission has cited outstanding statutory fees exceeding US$8.38 million as part of the dispute. Read also: Northern Ashanti Mines challenges Minerals Commission over Konongo takeover, disputes $8.3m debt However, Mr Bentil said he had seen documents containing different claims about the amount, as well as correspondence in which the company disputed the debt.

He argued that even if the outstanding fees were established, the issue should be addressed through negotiations and a payment plan, particularly given the recent change in ownership of the mine. “In every system where this happens, you sit down, you negotiate, and have a payment plan,” he said. “So apart from the fact that this is being disputed, even if it were true, that is not grounds for revocation.” He also rejected the suggestion that a notice issued by the Minerals Commission in April 2025 amounted to proper notice under Section 68, saying the law required the company to be given an opportunity to remedy any breaches before its licence could be revoked.

“When you give that proper notice, you have to give time for remedial action. And even if they are found culpable, you have to give them time to fix what has gone wrong. None of that has happened,” he said. Mr Bentil further situated the dispute within the broader debate over local ownership of Ghana’s mineral resources. He expressed support for Ghanaian investors acquiring major mining assets, including his hope that Ibrahim Mahama would acquire Gold Fields, while warning that the treatment of mid-level local mining companies raised concerns about the consistency of the country’s approach to indigenisation.

He maintained that promoting local ownership must go hand in hand with protecting investors’ rights and ensuring that regulatory decisions comply with the law. The Minerals Commission’s position on the allegations and the disputed statutory fees remains central to the ongoing disagreement over Northern Ashanti Mines’ licence revocation.