By The Minerals Commission has removed critical information about mining companies from its website after The Fourth Estate revealed how key figures within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and government appointees had obtained concessions to mine and prospect in forest reserves.
The deleted data includes details about the ‘contact persons’ of mining companies and the political affiliations of applicants for mining leases. In an interview with The Fourth Estate, the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, referred to these contact persons as ‘consultants.’
These individuals act as intermediaries, applying for mining licenses on behalf of companies and serving as the link between the mining firms and the regulatory body.
In a recent exposé, The Fourth Estate uncovered that Francis Owusu-Akyaw, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Juaben, is listed as the contact person for at least 15 mining companies. Among these companies is his own, FJ Minerals Limited, which has secured mining licenses to operate or prospect in forest reserves across Ghana.
Additionally, Owusu-Akyaw owns DML Investment Limited, through which he offers consultancy services to mining firms. DML Investment Limited’s website highlights its connections with senior officials of the Minerals Commission as a key competitive advantage.
“We have established key relationships with upper management at the Ghana Minerals Commission. These relationships have been instrumental in securing and operating concessions in the country,” it says.
When The Fourth Estate previously asked Mr. Ayisi about the importance of knowing the political affiliations of individuals applying for mining leases, he replied: ‘Sometimes it informs the kind of decision you should make.’
Nevertheless, the Minerals Commission removed this key information from its website on the same day The Fourth Estate published its report.
Mr. Ayisi did not respond to The Fourth Estate’s inquiries about the reason for the removal of this information.
EITI’s Response
In an email to The Fourth Estate, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international organization promoting open and accountable management of oil, gas, and mineral resources, emphasized the importance of disclosing the identities of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) in the minerals application process.
Gilbert Makore, EITI’s Regional Director for Anglophone and Lusophone Africa, stated that this is crucial because “a PEP, by using their political prominence and influence, maybe in a position to abuse their power to solicit bribes, secure public funds, or engage in other corrupt practices, including on issues relating to license allocations.”
Regarding Francis Owusu-Akyaw’s consultancy services for the 15 companies, Mr. Makore said he could not comment specifically on the case as he was unaware of it. He noted that any follow-up action would be the responsibility of the relevant authorities.
Without referencing any particular case, Mr. Makore highlighted that the involvement of PEPs in companies seeking mining licenses can elevate the risk of conflicts of interest. To mitigate these risks, he said: “It is imperative that the procedures for licensing are clear and that there are no deviations from the established processes.” He added that the Ghana EITI publishes an annual report that provides citizens and stakeholders with a diagnostic summary of potential deviations in the licensing process.
With many applicants owning multiple companies and applying for various concessions—some for as many as 10—Mr. Makore noted that most mineral licenses in Ghana are allocated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis, with some awarded through a tendering process. He explained that if an owner with multiple companies uses one to apply for a mining right, priority is given to the first company that applies, provided they meet all the obligations and requirements of the Minerals and Mines Act and its regulations.
He also noted that laws regarding mining ownership vary significantly by country and jurisdiction. For example, Zambia’s mining sector is considering anti-monopoly provisions that would limit a company to holding no more than five mining permits. Such provisions help manage risks related to ownership concentration, political capture, and conflicts of interest in the mining sector.
