The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has defended the revocation of three mining leases belonging to Adamus Resources Limited, insisting that promoting Ghanaian-owned businesses cannot become a justification for overlooking breaches that potentially threaten public safety and the environment.
Spokesperson for the Ministry, Mahmud Kabore, said the violations identified against Adamus were serious regulatory matters that could not simply be waived because the company is locally controlled.
Mr Kabore said the Ministry welcomes a clarification by IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe following reports about IMANI’s recent engagement with Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
He explained that Adamus formed only part of a broader presentation made to IMANI during the meeting. According to him, after hearing from the Minister and regulators, IMANI acknowledged that breaches had occurred but appealed for the authorities to temper justice with mercy.
Mr Kabore stressed, however, that such an appeal did not invalidate the regulatory findings against the company.
He rejected arguments that government should overlook the infractions in the interest of promoting indigenous businesses, warning that local ownership should not provide immunity from laws governing health, safety and environmental protection.
“You don’t bend those rules just because it is a local business or a local indigenisation agenda,” he said.
Mr Kabore alleged that Adamus expanded operations beyond its approved operating area without obtaining the required regulatory permissions, including environmental approval.
He also pointed to the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in mining activities on the affected concessions, describing the issues as serious breaches of Ghana’s mining laws.
The Ministry’s position follows its April 26, 2026 decision to revoke Adamus Resources’ Akango, Salman and Nkroful mining leases after investigations by the Minerals Commission. The Commission cited unauthorised subcontracting, mining without approved operating plans or required permits, failure to secure relevant regulatory approvals and the alleged unlawful involvement of foreign nationals.
Adamus has disputed the allegations and challenged the process leading to the revocation, maintaining that it operated with valid regulatory approvals and was not given a proper opportunity to respond to the allegations. The Minerals Commission has rejected the company’s due-process claims.
Following the revocation, Adamus Chief Executive Angela List petitioned the Lands Minister to reconsider the decision. The Minister subsequently established an independent committee to review the petition, while maintaining the revocation in force pending the outcome.
Mr Kabore maintained that government supports the growth of Ghanaian businesses and recognises the importance of local participation in the mining industry, but said that support has limits where breaches could endanger communities or undermine environmental safeguards.
For the Ministry, he said, indigenisation cannot mean applying one set of mining rules to Ghanaian-owned companies and another to foreign operators.
