Kofi Bentil urges Adamus to challenge mining lease revocation in court

Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has urged Adamus Resources Limited to challenge the government’s decision to revoke its mining leases in court, describing legal action as the most appropriate way to resolve the dispute.

Speaking in an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr Bentil said the company has every right to seek legal redress if it believes the revocation process was flawed.

According to Mr Bentil, the disagreement between the mining company and the government has reached a stage where the courts should determine whether the revocation was carried out in accordance with the law. He said Adamus should not back down from defending its interests, especially after publicly rejecting the decision.

“When it comes to these things, the logical conclusion is to go to court and have it sorted out,” he said.

The comments come after Adamus Resources announced its intention to challenge the government’s decision through legal channels. The company has maintained that the revocation was unjustified and accused the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, of failing to follow procedures required by law.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, however, has defended its decision. In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the Ministry said investigations had uncovered significant regulatory and operational breaches linked to the company’s mining activities. It said the Minerals Commission found evidence of violations of Ghana’s mining laws, regulatory requirements and financial obligations, leading to the revocation of the leases.

Mr Bentil argued that while taking the government to court may be difficult for some businesses, Adamus should not allow concerns over its wider commercial interests to prevent it from pursuing justice. “So if you ask me, do I recommend that they go to court? I do,” he stated.

He acknowledged that companies often hesitate to challenge government decisions because they fear possible consequences for their other investments and operations. However, he stressed that failing to act could have far-reaching implications.

Mr Bentil warned that if the company chooses not to fight the decision, Ghana could lose an important mining asset and further weaken local participation in the country’s mining industry.

“I’m also expressing a fear that in defence of their other businesses or for other reasons, they may not want to take on the government,” he emphasized.

He suggested that the matter goes beyond a dispute between a company and the state, describing it as an issue of national importance that raises broader concerns about Ghanaian ownership and involvement in the mining sector.

Mr. Bentil called on the government and relevant state institutions to provide greater clarity on the circumstances that led to the revocation and subsequent developments at the Adamus concession.

He said transparency and accountability are necessary to maintain public confidence in the management of the country’s natural resources.

He further appealed to stakeholders, including industry players and members of the public, to support efforts aimed at ensuring the matter is resolved through lawful and transparent processes.

As the dispute continues, attention is expected to shift to the courts, where Adamus Resources is likely to challenge the government’s decision.

The outcome could have significant implications for investor confidence, mining sector regulation and the future of local participation in Ghana’s extractive industry.