The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has met with officials of Cassius Mining Limited – an Australian mining company, following their threat to sue Ghana for the alleged role in allowing another mining firm to breach their concession.
According to Cassius Mining, in recent media reports, an estimated US$142million worth of gold was made from their concession by another mining company alleged to be a Chinese state-linked mine in Talensi.
The company alleged that the Chinese mining company – which had two leases of less than 0.25 km square, whereas they had 13.79 km square – was operating beyond what it had been permitted to do in 2017.
The operation of the alleged trespasser is said to have had the support of some state officials, especially after the company rebranded and was given a large-scale mining lease by the Minerals Commission of 16 square kilometres, being 50 times its original size.
It is following these developments that recent media reports suggested that Cassius Mining was preparing to commence proceedings through the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law at the London Court of International Arbitration. This was against the claims that the government knew the trespasser and the theft from their concession while nothing was done about it.
However, in a joint statement signed by the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, and the Chief Executive of Cassius Mining, James Arkoudis, it said an understanding had been reached to find a lasting solution to the problem.
This was after Samuel Jinapor met with officials of the mine, together with the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission on the side-lines of the African Down Under in Perth, Australia. “The purpose of the meeting was to engage officials of Cassius on the matters contained in the widely circulated media reports without prejudice basis. The meeting was very cordial and productive.”
At the end of the meeting, the two parties are said to have agreed to further engage on all matters in controversy to find an amicable solution.
