Mining Consultant and Senior Fellow at the Africa Policy Lens (APL), Ing. Wisdom Edem Gomashie, has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking details of ministerial approvals and Deeds of Assignment covering contract mining arrangements involving 11 mining companies and their respective mine support service providers.
The request, filed on August 6, 2026, is directed at obtaining records of assignments, if any, authorised by the Minister responsible for Mines in connection with the engagement of the identified mine support service providers.
Ing. Gomashie said the request was being made in the interest of transparency, accountability and the efficient management of Ghana’s mineral resources.
The RTI application is grounded, among others, on Section 14 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, as well as the Minerals Commission Act, 1993 (Act 450) and other applicable legal and regulatory frameworks governing mineral rights, assignments and the engagement of mine support service providers.
He is seeking copies of Deeds of Assignment approved by the Minister responsible for Mines between the mineral right holders and their respective contract mining service providers.
The companies and arrangements named in the request include Goldfields Ghana Ltd’s Tarkwa Mine and Engineers & Planners (E&P); Damang Gold Mine and E&P; Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd (Shandong Gold) and E&P; Newmont Ghana Ltd’s Ahafo South Mine and Underground Mining Alliance (UMA); and AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mine and UMA.
Others are AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Mine and AMAX Ltd; Perseus Mining’s Edikan Gold Mine and Rocksure International Ltd; Asanko Gold Mine and Rabotech Ltd; Heath Goldfields Ltd’s Bogoso-Prestea Mine and Fredock Mining Services Ltd; Asante Gold’s Bibiani Gold Mine and PW Mining International Ltd; and Asante Gold Chirano Ltd’s Chirano Gold Mine and Pamicor Ltd.
For each of the identified arrangements, Ing. Gomashie is demanding copies of the executed Deed of Assignment, the company’s application for ministerial approval, the date approval was granted and the Minister’s approval letter.
He is also seeking information on the effective date and duration of each assignment, the scope of mining activities assigned to the support service provider, and details of any subsequent amendments, renewals, variations or extensions.
Legal basis where no Deed exists:
A key aspect of the request is his demand for clarification where no Deed of Assignment exists for any of the listed contract mining arrangements.
In such cases, Ing. Gomashie wants the authorities to confirm in writing that no Deed exists and provide the legal basis upon which the relevant mine support service provider was authorised to undertake contract mining activities for the mineral right holder without ministerial authorisation of an assignment, if applicable.
The Mining Consultant said disclosure of the records would help promote transparency, regulatory compliance and accountability in the administration of Ghana’s mineral resources.
He further said the information would contribute to informed public discourse on the governance of the mining sector and help establish whether the relevant contractual arrangements were undertaken in accordance with the applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
Where any portion of a requested document is considered exempt under the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989), Ing. Gomashie has requested that only the exempt portions be redacted and the remainder of the records disclosed.
He expects the relevant authorities to respond within the statutory period prescribed under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
