Business News of 2026-10-16
US$990,000 debt to state warranted revocation of Nawara Mining licence - Minerals Commission
The Minerals Commission has defended its decision to revoke the mining licence of Nawara Company Limited, citing an outstanding debt of approximately US$990,000 in annual mineral rights payments to the state.
The Commission says the company was given the opportunity to settle its outstanding obligations but failed to make payment within the stipulated period, leading to the revocation of its licence on September 3, 2025.
The development comes amid allegations of illegal occupation, looting of mining assets and unregulated mining activities on the former Nawara concession at Nsuapemso in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region.
Speaking in an interview with Kwame Nkrumah Tikese on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia programme, the Commission’s Director of Mineral Titles, Frank Asare, explained that the decision to revoke the licence followed the company's failure to settle its outstanding annual mineral rights payments.
According to him, Nawara was served a notice in March 2025, requiring it to settle the outstanding amount within 120 days, in accordance with Section 68 of the Minerals and Mining Act.
He said the notice was intended to give the company sufficient time to clear its indebtedness, with the deadline falling in July 2025.
However, Asare maintained that the company failed to make the required payment within the period, paving the way for the subsequent revocation of its mining licence.
He disclosed that the revocation was effected on September 3, 2025, following a recommendation by the Commission's former Chief Executive Officer, Martin Ayisi, to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Asare stressed that once a mining licence is revoked, the affected company ceases to have the legal rights associated with that licence to operate on the concession.
He explained that mineral concessions are vested in the state and that the revocation of an existing licence allows other eligible companies to apply for the rights, subject to the applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
According to him, the Minerals Commission is therefore entitled to consider applications from other companies interested in the former Nawara concession.
He added that the Commission would continue processing applications for the concession unless the High Court issued an order directing it to restore Nawara's rights.
The position, he indicated, was based on the status of the licence following its revocation and the Commission's responsibility to administer mineral rights in accordance with the law.
Addressing concerns over the outstanding debt, Asare clarified that the approximately US$990,000 owed by Nawara would remain the company's responsibility.
He explained that any subsequent company that successfully applied for rights over the concession would not automatically become liable for Nawara's outstanding payments to the state.
The clarification comes amid concerns about the legal and financial implications of any transition involving the former concession and the companies seeking to acquire mining rights over the area.
The Commission's defence of the revocation comes against the backdrop of allegations by Nawara Company Limited concerning activities on its former concession.
The dispute has generated concerns over the status of the mining site, the rights of companies seeking to operate there, and allegations of illegal occupation, the looting of assets and unregulated mining activities.
The Minerals Commission's explanation centres on the revocation of Nawara's licence over the alleged failure to pay annual mineral rights fees and the subsequent eligibility of other companies to apply for the concession.
However, the Commission's position on the licence revocation does not, by itself, resolve the separate allegations concerning the occupation of the site, the reported removal of assets or the conduct of mining activities on the concession.
Those allegations require independent verification and responses from the parties involved.
The outcome of any court proceedings concerning the concession could also have implications for the competing claims and the future administration of the mining rights.
Meanwhile, the Minerals Commission maintains that it will continue to consider applications for the concession unless restrained by an order of the High Court.
AM
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