On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, two private security guards of Earl International Group were taken hostage by illegal miners at the company's underground mine in Gbane, located in the Talensi District of Ghana's Upper East Region. The incident occurred while the guards were on duty. According to reports, the perpetrators are believed to be illegal miners who have been encroaching on the mine's concession.
The incident comes barely a week after the Minerals Commission resolved a dispute between Earl International Group and Nalaamtaba Enterprise over portions of the mining concession. The dispute had caused tension in the area for over eight weeks, but the commission's intervention had restored calm to the mining community. However, Earl Group claims that unknown persons have now encroached on its underground operations and taken its guards hostage.
Earl International Mining Group has warned that further delays in enforcing regulatory directives deepen safety risks underground and threaten a major mining investment. The company is calling on the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to intervene to protect jobs and investments. In an official statement, the company said the illegality has escalated beyond the disputed area into a total takeover of its active operational zones.
According to Earl Group, dozens of persons identifying themselves as workers of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise have been invading the underground workings with weapons, including guns, cutlasses, scissors, and metal cables, to forcibly occupy active production faces. The company is urging the government, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to urgently enforce the Cease and Vacate Order and restore full operational control to Earl Group.
The situation has since calmed following the intervention of state security agencies in the Upper East Region. Earl Group has expressed appreciation for the steps taken so far by the Minerals Commission and the Ministry but emphasized that further delay increases safety risks and threatens the survival of a major investment. The company remains committed to responsible, safe, and lawful mining in partnership with regulatory authorities.
In a statement, Earl Group highlighted that the entity responsible for the illegality, Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, has been carrying out continuous illegal mining within their concession in flagrant violation of a Notice to Cease Mining Operations and Vacate the Gbane Mining Area, issued by the Minerals Commission with the approval of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The company is appealing for immediate and sustained security in the concession to prevent further invasion and guarantee worker safety. The incident has raised concerns about the security and sustainability of mining operations in the region, and stakeholders are calling for urgent action to resolve the situation and prevent future occurrences.
Key points
- Two private security guards of Earl International Group were held hostage by illegal miners at the company's underground mine in Gbane, Ghana.
- The incident is linked to a dispute between Earl Group and Nanlamtaaba Enterprise over mining concessions.
- Earl Group is urging regulatory agencies to enforce a Cease and Vacate Order and restore operational control to the company.
