Gbane: The enforcement of a Bolgatanga High Court order has escalated tensions and raised concerns over security in the mining community of Gbane, located in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region. The ongoing operations of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, a small-scale mining company, under the mandate of a court order, have sparked fears of potential conflict with the neighboring community of Namoaligo.
According to Ghana Web, the Bolgatanga High Court, under the jurisdiction of Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie, instructed the Upper East Regional Police Command on November 21, 2025, to provide security and assistance to Zongdaan Boyak Kolog, also known as Poloo, to conduct mining activities in Gbane under the name of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise. This directive was issued despite allegations of the miner lacking a valid mining license or necessary permits from the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority.
Legal representatives of the small-scale miner secured the police protection order after reporting encroachment on his concession by youth from Gbane and by Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, a large-scale mining entity. In February 2023, Zongdaan Boyak Kolog initiated legal proceedings against the Chinese mining company and other stakeholders over the disputed 25-acre concession.
Although the large-scale company secured a 14-year mining lease in April 2019, covering 16.02 square kilometers, a five-year mining license for 25 acres within this area was granted to the small-scale miner in May 2020. Despite the expiration of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise's mining license on May 14, 2025, the Bolgatanga High Court upheld the police protection order, dismissing attempts by Earl International Group to overturn it.
Justice Gemadzie ruled that the small-scale miner retained ownership of the license and concession until officially terminated by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. Consequently, an application for a stay of execution by Earl International Group was dismissed, with the court finding no exceptional circumstances to justify halting the order.
Tensions heightened when the Upper East Regional Police Command deployed heavily armed officers to enforce the court order, allowing Poloo to inspect the concession. Local youth expressed dissatisfaction, accusing Nanlamtaaba Enterprise of disrespecting community leaders and inciting conflict by recruiting from a rival community.
The enforcement of the order has led to reports of clashes in the underground mining areas, with small-scale miners allegedly encroaching on Earl International Group's operations. Albert Azongo, the Public Relations Officer for Earl Group, highlighted the challenges posed by the court orders and emphasized the need for legal recourse to address boundary disputes and maintain order.