Lands and Mines Watch Ghana (LMWG) has called on the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to commence criminal proceedings against Adamus Resources Limited and persons found culpable in the conduct that led to the revocation of the company’s Akango, Salman and Nkroful mining leases.
The advocacy group is also urging the Minerals Commission and other state investigative bodies to provide the necessary evidence and technical support to facilitate prosecution and recovery of monies it says are owed to the state.
The call follows the government’s decision to uphold the revocation of the three mining leases after an Inter-Ministerial Committee reviewed and rejected the company’s petition challenging the decision.
According to LMWG, findings from the committee’s review point to significant financial obligations allegedly owed by Adamus Resources to the Ghanaian state.
The group cited US$2.56 million in unpaid mineral rights fees, GH¢86.8 million in unpaid royalties and GH¢290.5 million in tax arrears, putting the combined domestic fiscal shortfall at approximately GH¢377 million.
LMWG further said the review uncovered discrepancies in the company’s gold export records and found that US$224 million was transferred to related parties outside Ghana between 2020 and 2024.
The group said the transfers required an independent forensic examination to determine their nature and legality, stressing that the issue should be investigated separately from the outstanding statutory debts.
“Administrative sanction of lease revocation, while necessary, is not a substitute for accountability,” LMWG said in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Kwame Owusu Danso, Esq.
The organisation said the findings also included allegations of unauthorised subleasing of mining interests to foreign nationals, mining outside permitted areas, and failure to obtain required environmental and forestry approvals.
LMWG argued that the alleged conduct could extend beyond regulatory breaches and potentially attract criminal liability under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
It is therefore asking the Attorney-General to expedite criminal proceedings against Adamus Resources and its directors, while urging the Minerals Commission and relevant investigative agencies to cooperate fully with any prosecution and recovery efforts.
The group also wants a forensic audit of the US$224 million in related-party transfers and has called on the government to ensure that any funds recovered, as well as future proceeds from the affected mining concessions, are managed transparently and in the public interest.
LMWG said it would continue to monitor developments surrounding the revocation of the leases and advocate for accountability over what it considers significant potential losses to the public purse
Source: www.kumasimail.com
