Parliament is on edge over the intensifying dispute between Engineers & Planners (E&P) and Azumah Resources concerning the Black Volta gold concession, as the Minority Caucus raises alarm about serious breaches in Ghana’s mineral governance framework.
Describing the matter as a potential flashpoint for corruption and institutional compromise, the Caucus has warned that the legitimacy of the country’s natural resource oversight is hanging in the balance.
“We are not being melodramatic when we say that this affair poses grave concerns about potential and perceived conflicts of interest,” declared Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Ranking Member of the Lands and Natural Resources Committee.
At the heart of the controversy is a “no-objection” letter reportedly issued by the Minerals Commission, granting E&P the green light to proceed with the acquisition—despite the apparent absence of formal ministerial consent. The opaque circumstances surrounding the document have deepened public mistrust.
The Minority is also questioning the role of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), which is believed to have backed the deal. The Caucus finds it troubling that the bank, with notable Ghanaian representation on its board, may have acted without verifying the legal validity of the arrangement.
“While these developments would normally be celebrated, the ongoing controversy threatens to douse everything… with regrettable suspicion,” the Minority’s statement read.
In response, the Caucus is demanding an immediate and comprehensive briefing from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. Should the explanation fall short, the Minority has vowed to trigger a full-scale parliamentary inquiry.
“We must restore credibility to our mineral governance system,” Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong insisted. “The credibility of our mineral governance regime is on trial.”
As pressure mounts, lawmakers, civil society, and industry observers alike are watching closely to see how the government responds to what is shaping up to be a critical test of transparency and accountability in Ghana’s resource management sector.
