The Ghana Chamber of Mines and Adamus Resources Limited have welcomed the government’s decision to provide a pathway towards resolving the impasse surrounding the company and facilitating the restoration of the Adamus Mine to sustainable operations.
The two organisations described the agreement as a significant step in protecting jobs, local businesses, host communities and the mine’s contribution to the country’s mining sector and the national economy.
Under the agreement reached following a meeting at the Presidency, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and Adamus Resources would work together to develop a 12-month roadmap to turn around the fortunes of the mine.
A six-member joint management team, made up of three representatives from Adamus Resources and three from the government, would supervise the implementation of the turnaround programme.
In April this year, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the revocation of three mining leases belonging to Adamus Resources Limited following stated violations of the country’s minerals and mining laws, including alleged unlawful engagement of foreign nationals in illegal mining activities.
The revocation affected the Akanjo, Salman, and Nkroful mining leases of Adamus Resources Limited.
Adamus statement
In a statement issued in Accra last Friday, Adamus said the outcome of the meeting provided a significant step towards protecting the future of the mine, its employees, contractors, suppliers, host communities and other stakeholders whose livelihoods and interests were connected to its operations.
The company said the next important milestone would be the presentation of the 12-month turnaround roadmap to the Presidency within the agreed two-week period.
Appeal to stakeholders
The company acknowledged the uncertainty and anxiety caused by developments surrounding the mine in recent months, and appealed to its employees, contractors, suppliers and host communities to remain calm, hopeful and supportive as the agreed processes unfolded.
It said preserving the mine’s productive capacity would help to protect jobs, support local businesses, sustain government revenues and strengthen Ghanaian participation in the mining industry.
The company expressed confidence that cooperation among the government, Adamus Resources, employees, financiers, suppliers and communities could help to overcome the challenges confronting the mine.
Chamber of Mines
The Ghana Chamber of Mines, for its part, commended the government for the intervention, and said the agreement demonstrated a commitment to dialogue, a boost to investor confidence and the preservation of productive mining assets.
It said the successful revival of Adamus, one of the country’s few indigenous large-scale mining operations, was important for protecting jobs, sustaining local businesses and host communities, and preserving the mine’s contribution to government revenue and the wider mining value chain.
The chamber expressed readiness to support efforts to protect investments and jobs, promote responsible local participation and strengthen the long-term contribution of mining to the country’s development.
