The Minority in Parliament has raised serious concerns over what it describes as an emerging case of state capture, accusing the Mahama-led administration of using state power to benefit former President Mahama’s brother, Ibrahim Mahama, through the controversial Black Volta Gold Project.
In a statement issued on July 29, 2025, and signed by the Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the Minority claimed that the gold project reflects a growing pattern of political interference in the mining sector.
The statement highlights an ongoing legal battle between Mr. Mahama’s company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), and Azumah Resources Ltd.
It warns that the dispute is more than a business disagreement and raises broader questions about political influence and regulatory fairness.
“The Black Volta Gold Project is just the latest example of how political connections are being used to gain control of national resources,” the Minority said.
The group compared the current situation to the 2016 Exton Cubic controversy, where then-President Mahama awarded his brother’s company mining rights to over 60% of Ghana’s bauxite reserves.
That deal was later annulled by the Supreme Court in 2019 for violating the Constitution and the Minerals and Mining Act.
The Minority also alleged that several key figures in Ghana’s mining regulatory bodies have links to E&P. Among those mentioned was Sammy Gyamfi, a former E&P spokesperson, who now heads the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD).
The statement suggests these appointments are part of a larger strategy to influence decisions in favor of Ibrahim Mahama.
“This is state capture of the worst kind,” the statement claimed, accusing the government of manipulating state institutions to benefit political allies.
Citing a recent example, the Minority questioned the government’s abrupt April 2025 refusal to renew the Damang Mine lease—operated by Abosso Gold Fields—only for the decision to be reversed a week later.
The group suspects the move was intended to intimidate competitors and pave the way for favoured interests.
Further raising eyebrows was President Mahama’s July 8 remark that “the time has come for Ghanaians to own gold mines,” which coincided with E&P announcing a $100 million loan facility from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).
The Minority dismissed the timing as more than a coincidence, calling the statement “misleading” and accusing the President of promoting an agenda that primarily benefits his inner circle.
They also condemned what they see as politically motivated crackdowns on businesses linked to opposition figures—particularly companies owned by NPP’s Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi)—as well as the dismissal of opposition-aligned public servants, including judges and security personnel.
“The land and its resources belong to all Ghanaians, not just those with political power,” the statement emphasized.
The Minority pledged to continue holding the government accountable and warned against what it described as a “refined but audacious” effort to concentrate national wealth in the hands of a few.
Story By: Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
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