Government Moves to Quell Tensions in Black Volta Mine Dispute
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has waded into the escalating dispute between Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and Engineers & Planners (E&P) over the ownership and development of the Black Volta Gold Mine in the Upper West Region, urging both parties to resolve the matter within a week.
In an official letter dated July 10, 2025, Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah gave the companies a seven-day window to pursue an amicable settlement, warning that failure to do so would compel the Ministry to take a decision in the national interest.
“In light of the circumstances, I have decided to grant the parties a final period of seven (7) days within which to resolve the matter amicably,” the letter stated. “Should this period elapse without a mutually agreed resolution, a decision shall be taken in the best interest of the country.”
The intervention comes after a flurry of public statements, legal filings, and media commentary over claims and counterclaims regarding the rightful control of the mine. While E&P maintains it entered into a legitimate acquisition agreement with Azumah in October 2023 and secured $100 million in financing from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Azumah has challenged the deal’s validity and accused E&P of breaching agreed terms.
The row has raised alarms within civil society and industry watchers, with many urging regulatory agencies to take proactive steps to safeguard Ghana’s reputation as an attractive and law-abiding investment destination.
In response, the Ministry has instructed the Minerals Commission to facilitate a mediated resolution process, aimed at ensuring the timely commencement of the project, which is expected to create jobs and boost economic activity in the region.
Minister Buah appealed to both sides to refrain from further media engagements and instead engage in “constructive dialogue and responsible engagement” under the guidance of state institutions.
The Black Volta Gold Project, once resolved, could become one of Ghana’s most symbolic milestones in achieving greater local participation in the extractives sector.
