A formal petition has been submitted to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) calling for the immediate investigation and restraint of the President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Rashid Ibrahim,  over comments linked to the proposed renewal of mining leases for Gold Fields Ghana.

The petition was filed by veteran financial and economic journalist, mining health and safety professional, and Executive Director of Muyad Social Services, Adnan Adams Mohammed.

According to the petitioner, the move follows what he described as inflammatory public statements allegedly made by the NUGS President and widely circulated by national media outlets on May 30, 2026.

The reports, published under headlines including “Xenophobia: NUGS President warns of mass action if gov’t renews Gold Fields lease,” quoted the student leader as threatening nationwide demonstrations should government proceed with the statutory renewal of commercial mining leases for Gold Fields Ghana.

In the petition, Mr. Mohammed condemned the remarks as a direct incitement to violence, economic sabotage, and a potential threat to national security.

He argued that the statements were based on what he described as a dangerous misrepresentation of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and a misunderstanding of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

“For an individual who claims the status of a lawyer to stand before the public and confidently misquote the supreme law of the land to justify lawlessness is a professional disgrace,” portions of the petition stated.

The petitioner further argued that calls for “mass action” targeting major mining operations could amount to unlawful conduct under Section 172 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which prohibits the instigation of riots and unlawful assemblies.

According to the petition, while Article 257(6) of the Constitution vests mineral resources in the President on behalf of the people, Article 18 protects private property rights, while Article 20 outlines strict legal procedures governing compulsory acquisition.

The petition also maintained that mining lease renewals are regulated by technical and legal frameworks under Act 703 and are assessed by the Minerals Commission based on competence, compliance, and operational capability rather than political pressure.

Mr. Mohammed further warned against what he described as attempts to weaponise xenophobia against multinational investors, arguing that such actions could damage Ghana’s reputation as a stable destination for foreign direct investment and negatively impact the economy.

As part of the petition, the Ghana Police Service has been urged to invite and interrogate the NUGS President over the alleged threats, issue a formal restraining warning to the NUGS leadership, and strengthen security around mining installations and affected communities.

The petitioner stressed that Ghana must remain governed by the rule of law and cautioned against actions that could undermine public order and investor confidence.