Mine Seized, $110 Million at Risk: Northern Ashanti fires back in court

Northern Ashanti Mines Company Limited (NAMCL), a subsidiary of Nguvu Mining Limited owned by Angela Attieh, also known as Angela List, has filed an injunction application at the High Court in Accra to stop the government from taking over its Konongo mining concession, warning that more than US$110 million in investment is at risk.

The legal action follows a security operation at the mine on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during which military and police personnel reportedly took control of the site, removed security guards and ordered workers to leave the premises.

The company is challenging the termination of its mining lease and the circumstances surrounding the takeover, arguing that the government acted unlawfully and failed to follow the procedures required before a mining lease can be cancelled.

The dispute has raised questions about the future of the Konongo Gold Mine, the protection of private investment in Ghana's mining sector and the legal basis for the state's actions.

$110m investment at risk

NAMCL says it has invested more than US$110 million in exploration and the redevelopment of the historic Konongo Gold Mine, including the construction of a gold processing plant that is reportedly more than 50 per cent complete.

The company holds a 13-year mining lease, ratified by Parliament, covering approximately 125 square kilometres. The lease is stated to run until February 1, 2036.

According to the company, its operations support approximately 422 permanent employees and contractors, whose jobs and livelihoods could be affected by the dispute.

The company is seeking to protect its investment and prevent the transfer of the concession to another party while the legal proceedings are pending.

Lease termination sparks legal battle

The dispute centres on a letter dated April 30, 2026, from the Minerals Commission, which reportedly cited the company's failure to remedy statutory and regulatory breaches within the prescribed period.

NAMCL disputes the process leading to the termination, insisting that the authorities failed to comply with the legal requirements governing the cancellation of mining leases.

The company argues that it should have been given the opportunity to address any alleged breaches before the lease was terminated.

Its legal challenge invokes the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which the company says requires a 120-day period to remedy specified operational deficiencies before a lease can be cancelled.

The precise legal basis for the termination, the breaches alleged by the regulators and the government's response are central to the dispute and are expected to be examined through the court process.

Military, police take control of mine

Tensions escalated on October 22 when a joint team of military and police personnel reportedly entered the Konongo site and took control of the premises under the direction of state regulatory officials.

The operation followed a site inspection the previous day, during which company executives, including General Manager Kenneth Allen, were reportedly informed by Minerals Commission officials that the concession had already been allocated to another consortium.

The company says it was not formally provided with documentation establishing the reallocation.

The reported development has added another dimension to the dispute, with NAMCL seeking to prevent the government from transferring the mineral rights to a third party before the court determines the legality of the termination and takeover.

The identities of the reported consortium members and the legal documentation underpinning the alleged reallocation have not been established in the information available for this report.

Company cites illegal mining concerns

NAMCL has also pointed to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, as a longstanding operational challenge at the concession.

Company directors reportedly said they had repeatedly raised concerns about illegal miners invading the mine's pits and had sought assistance from the Ministry of Defence and the Minerals Commission to address the problem.

The company maintains that the authorities failed to provide the assistance it sought, despite the risks posed by illegal mining activities at the site.

That position forms part of the wider dispute over the company's compliance with regulatory obligations and the circumstances leading to the termination of its lease.

The allegations concerning the authorities' response and the company's regulatory compliance have yet to be resolved by the court.

High Court asked to halt further action

In its application, NAMCL is seeking judicial review and an interlocutory injunction against the Minerals Commission, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Attorney-General.

The company wants the court to restrain further deployment of military personnel or the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to enforce the takeover while the matter is being determined.

It is also asking the court to prevent the transfer of the concession's mineral rights to another consortium pending the outcome of the proceedings.

The application is intended to preserve the status quo and protect the company's interests while the court considers whether the lease termination and subsequent actions were lawful.

The High Court's Commercial Division in Accra is scheduled to hear the motion for an interlocutory injunction on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

EA