THE LAW IS THE LAW: Minerals Commission Defends Termination of Northern Ashanti Mines Over US$8.3M Debt, 15 Years Non-Payment
The Minerals Commission has broken its silence on the controversy surrounding the termination of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited, formerly Owere Mines, insisting the action was lawful and followed due process.
This comes after the Managing Director of the company, Edward Enin, accused the government of a “Rambo-style” military seizure of the mine, describing the takeover as undemocratic and unlawful.
In a press statement dated October 27, 2026, and signed by its Communications and Corporate Affairs Directorate, the Minerals Commission said it has noted with grave concern the ongoing media campaign by the company to solicit public sympathy.
The Commission described the claims as false and said the leases were terminated strictly in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2176).
US$8.33 Million Debt Since 2010
According to the Commission, Northern Ashanti Mines acquired a mining lease covering 595 cadastral blocks in respect of the Owere Mines in January 2010.
Under section 24 of Act 703 and the terms of the mining lease agreement, the company was bound to pay Annual Mineral Right (AMR) fees to the Commission on an annual basis.
The Commission said it issued Notices to Remedy Breach on April 14, 2025, pursuant to section 68(2) of Act 703 and regulation 200(3) of L.I. 2176, requiring the company to settle outstanding AMR fees.
The total amount owed was *US$8,330,000* in respect of mining leases from 2010 to 2025, and *US$49,928* in respect of prospecting licences from 2019 to 2025.
“And yet, the Company failed to comply within the stipulated period,” the statement said.
No Mining Activity For Over 2 Years
Beyond the non-payment, the Commission said it established that the company had not undertaken any meaningful mining operations on the concession for a period exceeding two years, in direct contravention of section 69(1) of Act 703.
Following the failure to remedy the breaches, a whole year after the notice, the Commission on April 7, 2026 notified the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources with a request to serve a notice of termination.
The Minister approved the issuance of the notice on April 24, 2026, after which the Commission proceeded to act accordingly on April 30, 2026.
Rights Reverted To State
The Minerals Commission stated that once the mineral rights were terminated, they reverted to the State as the lawful owner, without prejudice to all liabilities assumed by the company prior to termination, including the debt.
“The Commission reserves the right and shall pursue the company to pay all the sums it owes to the State. Further, the State has the responsibility to protect and secure the assets that have reverted to the State from being dissipated or overrun by any encroachers or other illegal actors,” it added.
It referenced section 70 of Act 703 which makes provision for the status of mining assets on termination.
Contempt Of Court?
The Commission also revealed that Northern Ashanti Mines has instituted legal proceedings against the State in a court of competent jurisdiction challenging the termination after duly acknowledging receipt of the termination notice.
“Having done so, it is improper and contemptuous of the judicial process for the Company to simultaneously resort to the court of public opinion, peddling false narratives and soliciting sympathy for a matter it flagrantly violated,” the statement said.
“The Minerals Commission remains resolute in its resolve to uphold the laws without fear or favour and will not be distracted by media theatrics.”
The Commission emphasized:
“The law is the law. Mineral rights are not an inheritance. Once granted, a holder must abide by the rules, whether they are an indigenous company or not, and this includes the payment of statutory fees and the undertaking of meaningful mining operations.”
