BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Ranking Member on Parliament‘s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, has accused the Majority and government of undermining Parliament’s constitutional oversight role by approving what he described as defective mining lease agreements.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Friday, July 31, 2026, Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong said the Minority Caucus rejects Parliament’s ratification of six mining lease agreements, arguing that the approvals were granted despite serious legal, procedural and documentation deficiencies.
The six agreements relate to mining leases granted to Golden Star Wassa Limited, Maripoma Mining Services Limited, Perseus Mining Limited and Damang Gold Mine Limited (Special Purpose Vehicle for Engineers and Planners Limited).
According to the Ranking Member, the Minority supports responsible mining and investment but cannot endorse what it considers a weakening of constitutional safeguards governing Ghana’s mineral resources.
“This statement is not an attack on mining investment, neither is it an attempt to frustrate legitimate businesses operating within our mining sector. Ghana needs responsible investment, and the Minority remains committed to promoting a competitive, transparent and investor-friendly mining industry,” he stated.
He, however, insisted that Parliament must not compromise the national interest by approving mining agreements that fail to meet constitutional and legal requirements.
“Our concern is simple; Parliament cannot compromise the national interest by approving defective mining leases involving Ghana’s mineral wealth without the level of scrutiny that the Constitution demands,” Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong stressed.
The Ranking Member argued that under Article 257(6) of the 1992 Constitution, Ghana’s mineral resources are held in trust by the President on behalf of the people, making Parliament’s oversight responsibility indispensable.
“Parliament is not a ceremonial institution that merely endorses agreements placed before it by the Executive. Parliament exists to ensure that the Executive manages the people’s resources lawfully, transparently and in the national interest,” he said.
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong alleged that Minority members identified several shortcomings during committee deliberations, including unsigned cadastral plans, incomplete legal documentation, missing mining operation programmes and the omission of the State’s statutory ten per cent free carried interest in some lease agreements.
He described these deficiencies as governance failures that should have prevented Parliament from approving the leases.
The Ranking Member further expressed concern that, with the exception of Maripoma Mining Services Limited, several companies had allegedly commenced or continued mining operations before Parliament ratified their leases.
“Article 268(1) of the Constitution requires parliamentary ratification of mining agreements. Parliamentary approval cannot become a mere formality after companies have already begun extracting Ghana’s mineral wealth,” he argued.
He warned that allowing mining companies to begin operations before parliamentary approval effectively reduces Parliament to “a rubber stamp.”
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong also criticised the committee’s reporting process, alleging that concerns raised by Minority members during deliberations were not faithfully reflected in the final report presented to Parliament.
According to him, the Ranking Member was only furnished with the Chairman’s signed report minutes before proceedings commenced on the floor, denying the Minority adequate opportunity to review the document or prepare an informed response.
“The resources beneath our soil do not belong to today’s government. They do not belong to any Minister. They do not belong to any political party. They belong to the Republic of Ghana,” he stated.
He maintained that the Minority would continue to monitor every mining agreement brought before Parliament and vowed to hold all parties accountable for any constitutional or procedural breaches in the management of Ghana’s mineral resources.
