Accra: The Minority in Parliament is raising alarm over what it calls a growing risk of 'state capture' in Ghana's mining sector, accusing businessman Ibrahim Mahama of exerting undue influence over key institutions.
According to Ghana Web, Minority Lands and Natural Resources Spokesperson Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong addressed the press, expressing concerns about a 'dangerous drift' in the sector. He claimed that companies linked to Ibrahim Mahama have gained unfair advantages since President John Mahama returned to office, warning that the overlap between private interests and public regulators threatens transparency and accountability. The situation, he noted, is 'unfolding in real time.'
The caucus highlighted the pending transition of the Damang gold mine from Goldfields Ghana to the state, citing the lack of clarity over its future operator as troubling. They emphasized that both Parliament and the public have been left 'in the dark' regarding the mine's future.
Central to their concerns are alleged appointments of individuals with ties to Ibrahim Mahama across key institutions, including GIADEC, the Minerals Commission, the Ghana Gold Board, and the Minerals Income and Investment Fund. While each appointment may be justified individually, the Minority argues that, together, they suggest a pattern of a 'growing convergence' between public institutions and private interests.
Additionally, the group questioned the removal of the Ghana Gold Board from the direct oversight of the Lands Ministry, describing it as a move that weakens accountability. They are now demanding clarity on the Damang mine's future and a full investigation into what they describe as an 'excessive concentration of power' within the mining sector.