Adamus Resources Limited has rejected the government’s decision to maintain the revocation of its mining leases, describing the process as unlawful and accusing the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, of failing to follow the requirements of Ghana’s mining laws.

In a statement, the company said it was “shocked and disappointed” by the decision and strongly disputed the allegations used to justify the cancellation of its leases.

Adamus Resources described the allegations against it as baseless and alleged that the process was intended to force the company out of its mining rights.

The company argued that the Minister’s decision did not comply with the procedures set out under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

It further accused the Minister of exceeding his authority and disregarding the applicable legal framework in the process that led to the revocation.

Adamus Resources said it is preparing to challenge the decision through legal means and indicated that it will announce details of its intended action in the coming days.

The company’s position follows the government’s decision to uphold the cancellation of its mining leases and hand administrative control of the Adamus Mine at Salman in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region to the Minerals Commission.

Mr Buah announced the decision during a working visit to the mine after receiving the report of a Ministerial Review Committee set up to consider appeals submitted by Adamus Resources.

The Minister said the committee had examined the company’s concerns and upheld most of the breaches identified in an earlier assessment of its operations.

Based on the committee’s findings, Mr Buah said he had decided to maintain the revocation and instructed the Minerals Commission to immediately take over administrative responsibility for the mine.

The dispute follows an earlier government decision to terminate Adamus Resources’ mining lease over alleged violations of the conditions governing its operations.

Mr Buah explained that the review committee was established to give the company an opportunity to present its concerns before a final determination was made.

With Adamus Resources now indicating that it intends to challenge the decision, the dispute could move into the legal arena as the company seeks to overturn the revocation.

The company maintains that its mining rights were cancelled through a process that did not comply with the Minerals and Mining Act, while the government insists that the revocation followed findings of regulatory breaches.