Residents of Ellembelle, together with Lands and Mines Watch Ghana, a civil society organisation, demonstrated to demand the establishment of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the operations of Adamus Resources Mines as ordered by the High Court in July 2023.
In July 2023, the Accra High Court ordered the formation of a five-member IMC to supervise the mine’s operations, but this has yet to be implemented.
Despite the court order, gold production and shipping continue, raising concerns about who is responsible for the mining and shipping operations.
The protesters, who have given the President a two-week ultimatum to act, described the mine’s continued operation despite the court order as illegal and not beneficial to the government’s 10% stake in the mines.
They argued that the mine has been operating for over ten years without providing adequate amenities and local infrastructure to the community.
Solomon Owusu, President of Lands and Mines Watch Ghana, speaking to ChannelOne News emphasised the need for the government to respect the court’s decision and ensure the IMC is formed to protect the interests of the government and the community.
He questioned the government’s silence on the continuous operations of Adamus, stating that the company’s actions defied the court order.
“Last year in July, a competent court of jurisdiction in this country gave an order to this company (ADAMUS) that a five-member interim management committee be formed to supervise the operations of ADAMUS Mining. Currently speaking, one party to the suit which is Angela List together with the NGUVU mining have flaunted the court order last year in July, with impurity.”
“This is a country with the rule of law, that all ought to respect court decisions. If the court of competent jurisdiction says, an IMC must be formed and as we speak no IMC has been formed while gold production and gold shipping are ongoing, of which we have no idea who is responsible for the gold shipping, production and selling. This calls for a concern. So if we are unable to have the Interim Management Committee in place, then we are uncertain of the 10% shares we own together.”
“We want to urgently call on the President, we want to see him in the next two weeks to make sure that the IMC is in place. We are petitioning the President, the Inspector General of Police, The Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice in expectation of a call to action. Those who ought to protect the sanity of this country must not behave as though they are ignorant of this petition.
A resident of Ellembelle, Benjamin Oboo, also spoke out, urging the President to listen to the youth’s pleas and ensure that the rightful owner of the mine is given control.
He lamented the lack of benefits from the mine’s operations, despite its presence in the community for over ten years.
“On behalf of the youth of Ellembelle, I want the President to listen to the plea of these youths who are protesting that the rightful owner of the job should be given the mines. We are unemployed and ADAMUS has been here close for 10 years, yet we are not benefiting from the mines. Amenities and local infrastructures we ought to get, we are deprived of them due to poor management of the mines and we will not remain silent for all these to continue“
