Akonta Mining Company Limited has filed a lawsuit against the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, and the Minerals Commission, following the recent cancellation of its mining license.
The legal action, filed on Tuesday, April 29, seeks GHS 20 million in damages and a public retraction of statements made by the Minister, which the company describes as defamatory.
The government announced on April 21, 2025, that Akonta Mining’s license had been revoked due to alleged illegal mining activities in protected forest reserves. At a press briefing, the Minister revealed that although the company held a license to operate outside forest reserves, it had encroached on the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region without proper authorization.
He also alleged that Akonta Mining had sold access to these protected areas to illegal miners for as much as GHS 300,000 per concession, with some operators reportedly paying 250 grams of gold per week in royalties to the company.
In its statement of claim, Akonta Mining is seeking:
GHS 20 million in damages for libel.
A court order compelling the Minister to retract the statements and issue a public apology across all major media platforms, including television, radio, and social media.
A perpetual injunction preventing the Minister from making further defamatory remarks.
Full reimbursement of legal costs and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is expected to test the balance between governmental regulatory authority and corporate legal protections, especially within Ghana’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining.
