Mahama Faces Fresh Appeal Over Closed Konongo Mine as Workers Seek Immediate Talks

Workers of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in the dispute that has resulted in the closure of the Konongo mine and facilitate negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues.

The workers are calling on the President to bring together the company’s management, the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to find a lasting solution that would allow mining operations to resume while regulatory concerns are addressed.

The Konongo mine was shut down on October 22, 2026, following an operation conducted by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in collaboration with the Minerals Commission.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the company’s Community Relations Officer, Alfred Oduro, explained that the workers were not seeking to have the regulatory concerns dismissed but wanted an amicable resolution that would safeguard their employment.

He said the workers believed there were legal avenues through which the parties could resolve their differences without necessarily compromising regulatory requirements.

According to Oduro, their petition is intended to encourage the President to facilitate engagement among the relevant government institutions and the company’s management to agree on a way forward, including the possible relocation of the mining operations where necessary.

He expressed concern that the continued closure of the mine could jeopardise the livelihoods of workers and negatively affect the families and dependants who rely on their incomes.

Oduro further disclosed that management had been providing employees with updates on the legal proceedings and other developments surrounding the shutdown.

He said workers had been encouraged to remain patient while management pursued the necessary legal and administrative processes to secure the reopening of the mine.

The appeal comes amid an ongoing dispute over the mining rights of Northern Ashanti Mines, formerly known as Owere Mines.

In April 2026, the Minerals Commission terminated the company’s mining leases over alleged outstanding statutory payments and other regulatory violations.

However, the company has contested the decision in court, leaving the future of the Konongo mining operations uncertain.

Source: https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/11/northern-ashanti-mines-workers-seek-talks-with-govt-over-mine-shutdown/

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