"Akonta has no mineral rights or permits to mine within Tano Nimiri Forest reserve" – Minerals Commission

The Minerals Commission has categorically denied claims by Akonta Mining Limited that it holds legal rights to operate within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, stating that the company lacks the required mineral rights and statutory permits to undertake any mining activity in the protected area.

This official clarification follows recent revelations of Akonta’s mining operations within the forest reserve, which came to light after a press conference by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on April 21, 2025.

At the event, the Minister declared that the company was engaged in illegal mining, triggering widespread public concern and calls for accountability.

In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the Commission explained that while Akonta Mining was issued a reconnaissance licence in June 2011 covering 135.87 square kilometres in Samreboi—outside the forest reserve—the licence expired in June 2012.

A subsequent prospecting licence over the same area was granted in December 2012 but also expired in December 2014.

The Commission further revealed that in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which restricts the maximum size of a mining lease to 63 square kilometres, Akonta Mining submitted three separate mining lease applications.

These were approved on July 23, 2021, but notably, all the leases pertain to areas outside the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

"None of these leases has been ratified by Parliament, and more importantly, the company has not obtained the necessary environmental permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the operating permit from the Chief Inspector of Mines, or a forest entry permit," the statement emphasized.

The Commission disclosed that Akonta had previously applied for a prospecting licence within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve but later withdrew the application.

However, on August 25, 2022, the company submitted a new application for a mining lease within the reserve.

That application remains unsigned by the Minister and unapproved.

Despite lacking all required approvals, a joint security operation uncovered evidence of ongoing mining activities by Akonta within the forest.

GPS coordinates from the site confirmed operations in areas under pending application but without legal authorization.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Akonta has no mineral rights or permits that allow them to conduct any mining activity within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve,” the Commission stressed.

The incident has sparked renewed public discourse around the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement in Ghana’s mining sector and the persistent exploitation of ecologically sensitive zones by some operators without due legal processes.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith