The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has stepped in to mediate a growing dispute between Engineers & Planners (E&P) and Azumah Resources Ghana Limited over the ownership and development rights of the Black Volta Gold Project.
In a letter dated Thursday, July 10, Minister Emmanuel Kofi-Amarh Buah gave the two companies a one-week deadline to resolve their differences amicably or face a state-imposed resolution in the national interest.
This intervention follows the announcement of a $100 million Acquisition Facility Agreement signed on July 7 between E&P and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). The deal was touted as a landmark step toward establishing Ghana’s first large-scale, wholly indigenous gold mining operation through E&P’s purported acquisition of the Black Volta Gold Project.
However, the agreement has been thrown into controversy after Azumah Resources, widely known as the entity behind the Black Volta Mine, issued a public statement on July 8 denying any formal partnership with E&P. The company asserted that E&P “does not own any shares in Azumah” and “has not made any formal offer to invest in or fund” the company. Azumah reaffirmed its full control over the project and pledged to proceed in accordance with Ghanaian law.
Addressing the escalating situation, Minister Buah stated:
“In light of the circumstances, I have decided to grant the parties a final period of seven (7) days within which to resolve the matter amicably. Should this period elapse without a mutually agreed resolution, a decision shall be taken in the best interest of the country.”
The Minister has tasked the Minerals Commission with facilitating the mediation process to ensure that the Black Volta Gold Project commences without further delay. He also cautioned both parties against further public commentary on the matter and urged them to prioritize constructive dialogue.
The government’s swift involvement underscores the strategic significance of the Black Volta Gold Project to Ghana’s mining sector and national economic development.
 and Azumah Resources Ghana Limited over the ownership and development rights of the Black Volta Gold Project.){kind=link}