Residents of Akango, Salman and Nkroful in the Western Region have accused the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, of bias in his decision to uphold the revocation of Adamus Resources’ mining lease.

The residents, who say their communities have depended on the mining company and its operations for years, are calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and review the minister’s decision.

According to an Otec FM report on August 11, 2026, the residents warned that the revocation could have far-reaching economic and social consequences for the affected communities.

They acknowledged that Adamus Resources has been accused of engaging in illegal mining, an allegation the company has repeatedly denied. They believe the allegation may have contributed to the revocation of its mining lease.

The Lands and Natural Resources Minister announced the decision after receiving the report of a Ministerial Review Committee established to consider a petition filed by Adamus Resources following the initial decision to revoke its mining lease.

Speaking during a working visit to the Adamus Resources mine at Salman on Friday, August 7, 2026, the minister said the review committee had considered the concerns raised by the company but had largely affirmed the breaches identified in the initial assessment.

He said the findings of the committee had provided sufficient grounds for him to uphold the original decision to revoke the mining lease.

The decision, however, has not gone down well with residents in communities within the mine’s operational area in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

The residents argue that Adamus Resources has operated in the area for many years and has become an important part of the economic life of the surrounding communities, both directly and indirectly.

They fear that the revocation of the company’s lease could affect livelihoods, local businesses and other economic activities that have developed around the mine over the years.

Some residents are questioning what specific actions by the company warranted the revocation of its mining lease, particularly after Adamus Resources petitioned the government and a review committee was constituted to examine the matter.

While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to enforce Ghana’s mining laws and protect the country’s mineral resources, the residents said decisions affecting major investments should also be subjected to due process and assessed against their wider social and economic implications.

They are demanding further clarity on the breaches cited against Adamus Resources and why the lease was revoked even after the review process.

They insist that if the company breached the law, the public deserves to know the nature of those breaches and the basis upon which the final decision was reached.

“We want to know what exactly the company did to deserve this decision. If there were breaches, the people deserve to know the details and what measures were taken to address them,” some residents said.

Speaking to the media during a street protest on Monday, August 10, 2026, some residents also expressed concern about what they described as a lack of clarity surrounding the minister’s decision.

Some alleged that the minister could be acting in his personal interest, although they provided no evidence to substantiate the allegation.

They called on the minister to ensure that the matter is handled transparently and strictly in accordance with the law, stressing that decisions involving major investments should not be perceived as being driven by individual interests.

The residents maintained that government institutions must follow proper procedures in dealing with the company and ensure that the interests of the state, the investor and the host communities are protected.

They are particularly concerned about the potential impact of the decision on employment and businesses in the area.

According to them, the presence of the mine has created economic opportunities for residents, while several businesses and service providers have also benefited from activities connected to the mining operation.

They fear that prolonged uncertainty surrounding the future of the mine could worsen economic difficulties in the affected communities.

The residents have therefore appealed to the government to consider the potential social and economic consequences of the revocation before taking further steps.

They are also calling on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and find a solution that protects the interests of the communities while ensuring that the country does not lose valuable investment opportunities.

They warned that the manner in which the Adamus Resources issue is handled could have implications beyond the immediate mining area, particularly for Ghana’s efforts to attract investment into the mining sector.

Some residents argued that investors could become concerned if major mining investments have their licences revoked without what they consider sufficient explanation or assurances regarding the security of their investments.

They want the government to demonstrate that Ghana remains committed to the rule of law and the protection of legitimate investments while enforcing its mining regulations.

Government upholds revocation of Adamus Mine lease