Minerals Commission takes over Adamus Resources mine to ensure right investments are made - Lands Minister

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has handed administrative control of Adamus Resources Limited to the Minerals Commission following the conclusion of a ministerial review into the revocation of the company's mining leases.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the government had upheld the decision to revoke the leases after a Ministerial Review Committee completed its assessment of the matter.

He said the government's immediate priority was now to move beyond the dispute surrounding the leases and restore the mine to active, safe and productive operations while protecting the jobs and welfare of workers.

Addressing members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and workers of Adamus Resources, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the Minerals Commission had been directed to assume immediate administrative responsibility for the mine.

The Commission is expected to work closely with the IMC, management and employees to resolve outstanding operational challenges and create the conditions necessary for the mine to resume sustainable production.

“Our overarching objective is to make sure that this mine is working actively and the right investments that will expand this mine are in place,” the minister said.

The latest development follows investigations by the Minerals Commission into the operations of Adamus Resources and the company's mining concessions.

According to the Ministry, the Minerals Commission submitted a report to the Chief Inspector of Mines identifying what it described as serious violations of Ghana's mining laws and regulations.

The report recommended the revocation of the company's mining leases.

The government subsequently constituted a Ministerial Review Committee after Adamus Resources petitioned against the revocation.

Following the completion of the review, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said he had decided to uphold the original decision to revoke the leases.

The concessions affected include the Akango, Salman and Nkroful mining areas.

The leases were initially revoked in April 2026 following investigations into alleged breaches of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and associated regulations.

The Ministry said the investigations uncovered several alleged regulatory breaches in the company's operations.

Among the concerns cited were the alleged unlawful subcontracting of mining activities without the required ministerial approval.

Investigators also reportedly found instances of mining activities being carried out without approved operating plans or valid operating permits, as well as failures to secure required regulatory approvals.

The Ministry further cited the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in illegal mining activities on some of the affected concessions.

Environmental concerns were also raised, with investigators reportedly identifying degradation and mining activities outside designated operational areas.

The government has maintained that the regulatory action was necessary to protect the integrity of Ghana's mining sector and ensure that companies operating in the industry comply fully with the country's laws.

With the review process now concluded, the Minerals Commission has been tasked with taking administrative control of the Adamus mine.

The Commission is expected to work with the IMC and workers to address a number of pressing challenges affecting the operation.

These include outstanding salary payments, the reopening of the processing plant and the resolution of safety concerns at the mine.

The arrangement is also expected to ensure that the mine's operations remain properly regulated while the government considers how best to attract fresh investment.

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the government's objective was not simply to settle the dispute over the leases but to ensure that the mining operation becomes productive and sustainable.

“We will take remedial measures to also ensure that we protect not only the sanctity of this mine, but jobs of employees, which is really the preoccupation of the President,” he said.

The minister stressed that protecting workers remained a key consideration in the government's approach to the Adamus situation.

He said the government was committed to creating an environment capable of attracting the capital and technical expertise needed to expand the mine and improve its operations.

The government believes that restoring the mine to productive operations could help safeguard existing employment while creating opportunities for further investment and economic activity in the surrounding communities.

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said the government was therefore focused on ensuring that the necessary investment was secured to transform the mine into a properly regulated and commercially viable operation.

“And to make sure that the necessary investment required to transform this mine is done,” he added.

The Minerals Commission's assumption of administrative control therefore marks a new phase in the Adamus Resources saga, with attention now shifting from the legal and regulatory dispute over the revoked leases to the rehabilitation, safety and potential revival of the mining operation.