Minerals Commission Declares Akonta Mining’s activities Illegal, affirms absence of required Permits
The Minerals Commission of Ghana has issued a firm statement discrediting claims by Akonta Mining Limited that it holds a valid mining lease outside the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, declaring the company’s operations as illegal due to a lack of environmental and operational permits.
In a statement dated April 22, 2025, and seen by GhanaWeb Business, the Commission clarified that Akonta Mining does not possess any valid lease or license to conduct mining operations—either within the forest reserve or in adjacent areas.
“Currently, the Company has no mining lease to mine in the forest, nor does it have a forest entry permit to enter and undertake any mining operations or activities whatsoever,” the Commission stated emphatically.
According to the Commission, Akonta Mining’s reconnaissance license for a 135.87 sq km area in Samreboi expired back in 2012. Since then, the company’s efforts to obtain prospecting or mining leases have failed to secure necessary ministerial endorsements or meet full regulatory requirements.
Despite this, agents of the company were found operating in the forest reserve during a recent security raid, further raising concerns about illegal activities.
The Commission revealed that in August 2022, Akonta Mining applied for a mining lease within a section of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. However, the application was neither signed nor approved, nullifying any basis for operations in the area.
The statement, signed by the Deputy CEO of the Minerals Commission, Victoria Awuni, stressed that the company does not hold permits from critical regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Chief Inspector of Mines.
“Any activity or operation conducted in these areas (both inside and outside the forest reserve) constitutes illegal mining,” the Commission reiterated.
This declaration follows the revocation of Akonta Mining’s operating license on April 20, 2025, by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, citing persistent illegalities within the forest reserve.
The Commission’s firm stance is seen as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on unauthorized mining and protect Ghana’s forest reserves from environmental degradation and encroachment.
Source: Thepressradio.com
