The Minority caucus in Parliament is alleging what it describes as serious regulatory breaches in the acquisition of the Black Volta gold concession by Engineers & Planners (E&P).

In a statement by Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Ranking Member, Lands and Natural Resources Committee, warns that the issue threatens the credibility of Ghana’s mining governance framework.

According to the Mampong MP, the controversy involving E&P and Azumah Resources Ghana Limited, a longstanding stakeholder in the Upper West Region with deep community linkages, raises troubling concerns about potential conflicts of interest, weak regulatory oversight, and a growing erosion of public trust in institutions responsible for managing the country’s natural resources.

Central to their concern is a “no-objection” letter reportedly issued by the Minerals Commission to enable E&P’s acquisition of the Black Volta concession from Azumah Resources.

The Minority argues that under Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), such a transaction must first receive written approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources—not just a regulatory commission—before proceeding.

They suspect this statutory requirement may have been bypassed, a move they say could amount to an illegal transfer of mineral rights.

“We would therefore assume that the no-objection letter was issued with formal ministerial sanction… If such ministerial approval was indeed secured, then Parliament must be shown the documentation trail and the underlying analysis,” the Caucus stated.

The Minority further claims that E&P may be relying on this disputed “no-objection” to obtain financing from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).

They describe EBID’s involvement as alarming, especially given the institution’s stature and the fact that both its President and the current Chairman of its Board of Governors are Ghanaians.

The Caucus warns that the affair risks casting a cloud of impropriety over both Ghana’s mining regulation and its role in sub-regional financial institutions.

Beyond regulatory and legal issues, the Minority warns of broader consequences, including reputational damage, economic risk, and the undermining of Ghana’s strategic development policies.

They argue that the standoff has frozen potential economic activity in the Upper West Region, delaying job creation, royalty payments, and local development benefits.

They also question why two entities appear to be pursuing rival claims to the same concession, despite both reportedly being in discussions with the Lands Ministry.

“How is it that two parties… are able to proceed on parallel tracks with rival claims?” they asked, pointing to possible failures in the Ministry’s mediation efforts.

Citing Ghana’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) compliance and its reputation as a stable investment hub, the Caucus expressed concern that the public spectacle of duelling concessions and now international arbitration could shake investor confidence.

“Foreign investors observe not just our legal codes but how we apply them,” they warned.

A particularly sensitive issue, according to the Minority, is the perceived political proximity of E&P to the ruling government.

While they stopped short of alleging direct impropriety, they argued that perceptions of regulatory favouritism must be dealt with decisively to preserve the integrity of the sector.

The Caucus is demanding urgent engagement with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and has called for answers to six specific questions, including when ministerial approval was granted for the transaction, what documentary evidence supports it, and how the Ministry is ensuring neutrality in the mediation process.

They have also hinted at invoking Parliament’s investigative powers under Article 103 of the Constitution if the Minister’s responses fail to provide full clarity.

“We must restore credibility to our mineral governance system. We must protect Ghana’s international standing. We must uphold the rule of law,” the statement concluded.