The escalating dispute between Engineers & Planners (E&P) and Azumah Resources over the Black Volta gold concession has triggered serious alarm within Parliament. 

The Minority Caucus warns that the integrity of Ghana’s mineral governance is at stake, especially given concerns over legality, transparency, and political interference.

“We are not being melodramatic when we say that this affair poses grave concerns about potential and perceived conflicts of interest,” stated Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee. 

At the centre of the controversy is a no-objection letter allegedly issued by the Minerals Commission, permitting E&P to advance its acquisition, without clear evidence of ministerial approval.

The involvement of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has further muddied the waters. 

The Minority notes that the bank, which has strong Ghanaian representation on its board, may have proceeded without verifying the legal standing of the transaction. 

“While these developments would normally be celebrated, the ongoing controversy threatens to douse everything… with regrettable suspicion,” the Minority’s statement read.

The Caucus has requested a full briefing from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and warned that, should answers fall short, it will initiate an inquiry. 

“We must restore credibility to our mineral governance system,” Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong asserted. “The credibility of our mineral governance regime is on trial.”