The Minerals Commission of Ghana has officially declared that Akonta Mining Company Limited holds no valid mining lease or the necessary authorisations to operate in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, debunking claims that the company has the right to engage in mining activities in the protected area.
“Our records show that Akonta applied for a prospecting licence to prospect for minerals in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The application for the prospecting licence was later withdrawn, and the Company applied for a mining lease over a portion of the Forest Reserve on 25th August 2022,” the Commission stated in a release.
Crucially, the application for the mining lease was never approved. “The application for the mining lease was not signed by the previous Minister.
Currently, the Company has no mining lease to mine in the forest, nor does it have a forest entry permit to enter and undertake any mining operations or activities whatsoever,” it emphasized.
“Therefore, Akonta has no mining lease in the forest, or any other permits or authorisations required to undertake mining operations lawfully in the forest.”
The Commission also reiterated the legal prerequisites for conducting any mining activity in forest reserves.
“It is important to note that for any lawful mining operation to be undertaken, the Company must have: an Environmental Permit issued by the Environmental Protection Authority, and an Operating Permit issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines of the Commission.”
This clarification follows a directive from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, for Akonta’s license to be revoked amid accusations of illegal mining in the Nirim Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The Minister’s instruction came after growing public concern and renewed scrutiny over the company’s alleged environmental infractions.
