Mahama must intervene; Northern Ashanti Mines takeover undemocratic – Former Obuasi East MP

Former Obuasi East Member of Parliament, Edward Enin, has condemned the military takeover of Northern Ashanti Mines, describing the operation as undemocratic and calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene.

His comments come amid growing criticism from civil society organisations and stakeholders in the mining sector over the reported deployment of military personnel to take control of the mine.

In an interview with the media, Mr Enin argued that even if the company had breached the law, the authorities should have followed due process rather than using the military to take over an indigenous mining operation.

“Granted, without assuming that the company has violated the laws, that is not the way to go about seizing an indigenous mine with the military,” he said.

“Northern Ashanti Mines is an indigenous company, and so even if you feel they have done things that do not conform with the law, you don’t just take over the mines with the military. We are in a democracy, and I don’t think even a coup d’état country would do that to its citizens,” the former MP said.

Mr Enin, who disclosed that two of his nephews worked at the mine, said accounts they gave him about the operation were disturbing.

According to him, the workers were reportedly given one hour to remove their personal belongings from the premises and had to hire a Kia truck to transport their valuables.

He questioned the decision to take over the mine, particularly after what he described as a reprieve granted to the company by the government, arguing that the Minerals Commission should have allowed it an opportunity to address any alleged breaches.

Mr Enin also criticised the reported decision to transfer the mine to Chinese interests, insisting that the President must intervene to address the situation.

“The President must intervene. I hear he is out of the country, but Mahama that I know won’t support this lawlessness,” he said.

Mr Enin further expressed concern about what he described as the failure of Ghanaian authorities to adequately protect local mining companies while allowing foreign interests to benefit from the country’s mineral resources.

He cited Nigeria as an example, arguing that the country was more protective of its indigenous businesses.

“Nigerians defend their own and protect their own no matter the circumstances,” he said.

He warned that the financial strength of foreign investors could put indigenous mining companies at a disadvantage if the authorities failed to protect local interests.

“What is happening is that the Chinese have the money to spend, so if you don’t take care, we would end up leaving our mineral resources in the hands of the Chinese at the expense of indigenous miners,” he said.

The former MP appealed to President Mahama to intervene and reverse what he described as an unlawful decision, citing the President’s intervention in the Adamus mining case as a precedent.

Meanwhile, Northern Ashanti Mines Limited has initiated legal proceedings at the High Court in Accra to challenge the termination of its mining lease covering the Konongo area in the Ashanti Region.

The company has filed an application for an interlocutory injunction against the Minerals Commission, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Attorney-General, seeking to restrain them from taking further steps to take over the mine pending the determination of its substantive legal challenge.

The motion was filed on October 22, 2026, at the registry of the Commercial Division of the High Court. The company’s solicitors, VINT & ALETHEIA PRUC, led by Erasmus Papa Akotey Quartey, are expected to move the application on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Among the reliefs being sought, the company wants the court to restrain personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies from entering, occupying or interfering with its operations, staff, equipment, facilities, records and property within the mining lease area.

It is also asking the court to prevent the deployment of security personnel to enforce the purported termination of its lease, as well as any move to grant or transfer mineral rights over the area to a third party while the matter is before the court.

The company further wants an order restraining the respondents from taking any additional steps to implement the termination pending the final determination of its application for judicial review, which was filed on October 21, 2026.

In a separate but related application for judicial review, Northern Ashanti Mines is asking the High Court to declare the termination of its mining lease unlawful and to quash the decision.

The application names the Minerals Commission, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Attorney-General as respondents.

According to the court documents, the decision to terminate the lease was communicated in a letter dated April 30, 2026, signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission.

The company argues that the decision was made without lawful authority and in violation of mandatory procedures under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2176).

The court is yet to determine the company’s applications. The allegations and claims contained in the legal filings remain subject to the court’s determination.