Ellembelle: A Coalition of Assembly Members in the Ellembelle District has declared full support for the Assembly Member of the Salman electoral area and its community in a contentious dispute involving Chinese participation in alluvial mining.
According to Ghana News Agency, the coalition's backing follows what they termed a 'misleading statement' by Mr. Barnabas Ewereko, Assembly Member for Asasetre. This statement was related to the arrest of Chinese nationals involved in alluvial mining at Salman, apprehended by the Esiama Divisional Police Command under the directive of Mr. Joseph Armah Agyekum, the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle.
Management of ADAMUS Resources Limited confirmed to the Police that the company had leased part of its concession to AU, a Chinese-owned company, for small-scale alluvial mining within the Salman lands. This arrangement has raised concerns among the youth in Salman, who have long been denied access to land for cooperative mining. The youth, led by the Salman Assembly member, organized a press conference, seeking answers from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and ADAMUS Resources Limited.
In a statement, the coalition, led by Mr. Paul Kodwo Kwaw, Assembly Member for Kikam and Asemko electoral areas, questioned the legality of ADAMUS ceding part of its concession to a foreign company for small-scale mining. The coalition also queried whether this arrangement complied with Ghana's Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and pondered if China's mining laws would permit a similar deal.
Tensions further escalated when the Salman youth, feeling excluded, staged a demonstration to protest what they perceived as neglect and injustice. In response, the Ellembelle District Security Council (DISEC) intervened to mediate between the company and the community to restore calm.
The Coalition is also demanding clarity on whether the Lands and Natural Resources Minister and the Minerals Commission were informed of the sub-lease and if the arrangement received the required regulatory approval.
Meanwhile, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has revoked ADAMUS Mining leases covering the Akango, Salman, and Nkroful concessions due to illegal mining activities. A press release from the Ministry stated that investigations by the Minerals Commission, backed by documentary and photographic evidence, revealed several severe breaches of mining laws by ADAMUS Resources Limited.
Among the findings, ADAMUS Resources Limited was reported to have unlawfully sub-contracted mining operations on their concessions without obtaining the necessary Ministerial consent, as required under section 14 of the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703). The investigations also cited ADAMUS for illegal mining without permits, carrying out mining activities without approved operating plans or valid permits from the Chief Inspector of Mines, as mandated by regulation 8(1) of the Minerals and Mining (Health, Safety, and Technical Regulations 2012 (LI 2182).
Furthermore, the company failed to secure regulatory approvals from authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), violating section 18 of Act 703. The investigations also highlighted ADAMUS's involvement in illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, with the engagement of Chinese nationals on the affected concession.