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Akonta Mining Company Limited has sued the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, and the Minerals Commission, demanding GH¢20 million in damages over allegations of illegal mining and criminal activity.
The lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court on April 24, 2025, accuses Minister Buah of defaming the company during a fiery press conference on April 22, 2025. At the briefing, the Minister claimed Akonta Mining was running illegal operations inside the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve and illegally selling concessions to unauthorized miners.
Minister Buah alleged that Akonta Mining charged GH¢300,000 per concession in the Aboi Forest and received weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold from illegal miners—actions he described as criminal and destructive to the environment.
In response, Akonta Mining insists it has done no wrong. The company says its two 10-year mining leases, acquired legally in 2021, cover areas in Samreboe and Abokoase—outside the Tano Nimiri Forest. It also maintains that it has fully complied with all mining regulations, paying over $301,000 in required fees.
Akonta Mining is seeking:
- GH¢20 million in damages,
- A public retraction of the Minister’s allegations,
- An official apology,
- A court order to bar further defamatory publications.
The lawsuit follows Minister Buah’s order on April 21, 2025, revoking Akonta Mining’s licenses amid a government clampdown on illegal mining activities nationwide.
This explosive legal battle now sets the stage for a fierce showdown in court, as tensions over environmental protection and mining rights escalate across Ghana.
