Akonta mining slaps Lands Minister and Minerals Commission with Ghc20million lawsuit

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, is facing a lawsuit. Akonta Mining Company Limited has sued him and the Minerals Commission.

The lawsuit challenges the revocation of Akonta's mining lease. The government announced this decision on April 21, 2025. They canceled the license due to alleged illegal mining activities in protected forest reserves.

During a press conference, Minister Buah discussed illegal mining issues. He mentioned arrests made by the Forestry Commission and Ghana Police in August 2022. These arrests involved individuals linked to Akonta Mining encroaching on forest reserves.

Buah claimed that Akonta Mining operates as a criminal syndicate. They allegedly sell access to the Aboi Forest Reserve for GHC 300,000 per concession. Illegal miners are said to operate under Akonta’s protection, harming the River Tano and nearby forests.

He stated that investigators went undercover to gather information about these operations. Their findings revealed a systematic destruction of resources. A representative from Akonta, Mr. Ayisi, was identified as negotiating fees for illegal access.

The concessions were reportedly subleased to individuals like “Mr Henry” and “Shark.” These individuals oversaw damage in the Aboi Forest Reserve and Tano River area. As part of their agreement with Akonta, they paid weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold.

Following these revelations, Minister Buah revoked Akonta Mining's license owned by Chairman Wontumi. In response, Akonta filed a lawsuit on April 29 seeking GHS 20 million in damages.

They claim special damages for libel published by the defendants and media outlets. The company demands a retraction of what they call defamatory statements against them.

Akonta also seeks an unqualified public apology across various media platforms including television and social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

Additionally, they request an injunction preventing further defamatory statements from the Minister. They seek reimbursement for legal costs and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

This case will test government enforcement against illegal mining versus companies' legal rights.