The people of the Tano Offin Forest Belt, along with key Asante groups, have called on the government to ensure the swift ratification of the mining lease agreement between the Republic of Ghana and Ashanti Bauxite Limited (ABL).
The groups—comprising the Asante Kotoko Society, Asanteman Community Foundation, and the Royal Society of Asante Researchers (ROSACH)—held a press conference at the National House of Chiefs in Manhyia on Sunday, March 23, 2025, to make their demands clear.
Speaking at the event, Charles Wilberforce Nuako, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the groups, urged the government to prioritise the ratification of the agreement, which was initially laid before the 8th Parliament on July 16, 2024, but remains pending in the 9th Parliament.
“We, the community members, are demanding that this agreement should be ratified for ABL to start work, or the government should not bring any other company to our land to extract the bauxite,” he stated.
According to Mr Nuako, the agreement, which was executed on May 14, 2024, is crucial to unlocking economic benefits for the community and ensuring that local stakeholders actively participate in the mining project. He insisted that Parliament must ratify the agreement before its first recess to pave the way for the project to commence.
The mining lease agreement is a key part of the government’s broader efforts to develop an Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI). In 2019, the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) initiated a three-round investor engagement process to identify a strategic partner for the Nyinahin-Mpasaaso bauxite deposit. Following this process, Rocksure was selected as the first strategic investor.
Mr Nuako highlighted the extensive preparatory work already completed by Rocksure, including an Environmental Baseline Study, a Refinery Pre-feasibility Study, and a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) report, which confirmed the presence of commercially viable bauxite deposits.
“The MRE report was presented to the former President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the Jubilee House on November 14, 2023, and was also submitted to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who gave his blessing to the project,” he noted.
He further explained that the affected communities had been actively engaged in the process and had granted social licence for the project. A 19-member committee, composed of opinion leaders, traditional authorities, and civil society representatives, was established to ensure community participation.
Mr Nuako also highlighted key benefits outlined in the agreement, including government participation through GIADEC’s 30% equity stake in ABL. Additionally, the agreement guarantees that 80% of the workforce will be drawn from local communities, ensuring direct economic benefits.
“Apart from job creation, ABL has committed to paying 3% of its revenue towards the Growth and Sustainability Levy, which will benefit the community. The company will also establish a Community Development Fund to support critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, and electricity,” he added.
Another major highlight of the project is the planned development of a bauxite refinery in the Nyinahin-Mpasaaso area, which will process bauxite into alumina, a key step towards realising Ghana’s Integrated Aluminium Industry vision.
“The refinery will not only add value to our natural resources but will also create more jobs and drive economic growth in the region,” Mr Nuako emphasised.
On environmental concerns, he assured the public that ABL had committed to implementing strict measures to prevent environmental degradation and protect local water bodies and ecosystems.
In conclusion, the community leaders commended the transparent and inclusive approach taken by GIADEC and ABL, stressing that previous exploration efforts in the area had been unsuccessful.
“We believe this project will bring tangible benefits to the Ashanti Region and Ghana as a whole. We urge Parliament to act swiftly in ratifying the agreement so that mining operations and refinery development can begin without further delay,” Mr Nuako stated.
The Asante groups remain hopeful that their call will be heeded, allowing the project to move forward for the benefit of the people and the nation.
Nana Yaw Owusu/Ashanti Region.
