Stakeholders, predominantly investors in Ghana’s mining industry are uncertain of their future and businesses in the country, as the Minerals Commission tries to use underhand dealings to steal their concessions from them.
This conspiracy, being supervised by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Martin Ayisi and Board Chair of the Commission, Barbara Oteng Gyasi has left the mining community shaken.
This follows the attempted hostile takeover of FGR Bogoso Prestea Mining Limited being operated by a British company called Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited which has made huge investments into the mine concession based in the Western Region.
Barbara Oteng Gyasi and Martin Ayisi in separate actions, which can be described us a planned ploy including public pronouncements have undermined the operations of FGR.
They have emboldened local chiefs and the Ghana Mine Workers Union into dispute with the company mounting pressure over the mine’s inactivity, which has severely impacted the local economy. The union staged a protest in April 2024, demanding the government intervene to resolve the deadlock and protect workers’ livelihoods.
Barbara Oteng Gyasi, is reported to have been on media rounds, saying taking over the mine is in the interest of the people in the locality in which the mine operates, while the Minerals Commission boss, Martin Ayisi has been reportedly spotted in South Africa looking for new owners to takeover the mine.
Per investigations from the Herald newspaper, the minerals commission boss has met with some former workers of the mine, who are set to take over operations of the mine temporarily when the British owners are kicked out.
Blue Gold, bought the mine concession in 2020 from Golden Star Resources during the hard times of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been seeking partnerships and investments to run the mines.
