The Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has stated that state authorities, including the Minerals Commission, are permitted under the law to regulate activities under their watch. He emphasized that enforcement of regulatory action must not be misconstrued as deliberate government sabotage. Kwakye Ofosu made these comments on TV3's Key Points program on October 31, 2026. He added that anyone who feels unfairly treated can seek redress in law courts.
Prior to Kwakye Ofosu's comments, Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, alleged that some state officers are brutalizing and intimidating the owners of Narawa Mines, despite a court order. Kpebu described the action of the officers as illegal but withheld the names of the supposed officials, citing a scheduled meeting to address the issue. Failure to address this matter would lead to the mention of the officers' names, he warned.
Another private legal practitioner, Kofi Bentil, expressed concern that Ghana is looking like a failed state, where armed individuals can take over mines and give them to foreigners. He wondered why the Minerals Commission allowed such lawlessness to occur under a democracy. Narawa Company Limited has called on the government and relevant state agencies to urgently intervene in what it describes as a violent takeover of its mining concession.
The company reported that armed persons took control of its mining site on August 12, 2026, and that more than two months later, armed civilians and military personnel remained at the concession while mining activities allegedly continued. This has resulted in three deaths and injuries to 10 people, including a police officer, between August 12 and October 7. The company also reported the theft of six excavators, gold, and gold concentrate valued at approximately GH¢100 million.
Narawa commended the Ghana Police Service for its efforts in investigating the incidents, following the reported arrest of three persons allegedly connected to the events. The company also raised concerns over an October 1 incident in which two people were killed and six others sustained gunshot injuries. According to Narawa, the victims were among eight people invited for security recruitment interviews outside the mining site.
The company questioned the presence of military personnel at the concession and called on the Ghana Armed Forces to clarify their identities, deployment authority, and mandate. Narawa alleged that about 13 groups of operators, reportedly involving Chinese nationals, were currently undertaking unauthorized mining activities at the concession. The company called for an investigation into these allegations and the halt of any unlawful activities.
Narawa demanded written explanations from the government and relevant state institutions on the authority behind the armed presence at the concession, the progress of investigations, and the legality of the mining activities currently taking place there. The company insisted that those processes should not prevent the authorities from taking immediate action to protect lives, secure assets, and prevent further environmental damage.
Key points
- The Ghana government has warned against misconstruing regulatory action as sabotage.
- A violent takeover of a mining concession has resulted in three deaths and injuries to 10 people.
- The company has called for an investigation into allegations of unauthorized mining activities involving Chinese nationals.
