Black Volta Gold Mine Drama Deepens as Civil Society Urges Minerals Commission to Step In
The high-stakes tussle over Ghana’s Black Volta gold mine has taken a fresh twist, with civil society organizations (CSOs) in the extractives sector now calling out the Minerals Commission for its deafening silence in the face of mounting tensions.
In what’s fast becoming a heavyweight clash between indigenous mining firm Engineers & Planners (E&P) and Australia-linked Azumah Resources Ghana Limited, CSOs say the time has come for the regulator to intervene and bring both parties to the negotiation table before investor confidence takes a hit.
“The Minerals Commission cannot afford to be a bystander,” one stakeholder told The High Street Journal. “What we’re witnessing is not just a corporate fallout—it’s a litmus test of Ghana’s ability to manage large-scale mining disputes transparently.”
At the heart of the conflict is a disputed $100 million acquisition of the Black Volta project. E&P says it signed a legitimate deal with Azumah’s shareholders in 2023, backed by a loan facility from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID). They insist they’ve honored the contract and won a High Court ruling preserving the status quo.
But Azumah is having none of it. The company insists the deal is dead, claiming E&P brought in only a fraction of promised funds and is misleading the public. They’ve since rallied new international investors and vowed to move forward, without E&P.
In the midst of the war of words and legal crossfire, stakeholders worry the bigger picture is being lost.
“This kind of public confusion over ownership, funding, and legal standing sends the wrong signals,” said a former mining regulator. “It tells investors that Ghana’s mining environment is unpredictable, and that’s a perception we cannot afford.”
The CSOs are now demanding that the Minerals Commission convene both parties under one roof and facilitate a mediated settlement.
“This is a defining moment,” said another civil society leader. “It’s not about choosing sides. It’s about preserving the sanctity of contracts, restoring investor trust, and protecting Ghana’s reputation as a stable mining destination.”
With billions in gold at stake and the promise of jobs, royalties, and local development hanging in the balance, the pressure is now on the regulator to act before Ghana’s golden moment turns into a cautionary tale.
