The Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer, Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, said Ghana’s success in maximising mineral wealth should be measured by both the revenues collected today and the lasting economic opportunities created for the country.

He was speaking at a civil society dialogue organised in partnership with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) under the theme, “Ghana’s Mining Fiscal and Revenue Governance Architecture: Is Ghana Maximising Value from Its Mineral Wealth?”

Nantogmah described investors, communities and government as three interdependent pillars whose interests must be considered together.

Investors, communities and government form the mining tripod. Each must derive value through fair returns, improved livelihoods and sustainable public revenues. Our goal should be to maximise and fairly share that value; squeezing one leg weakens the whole,” he said.

He stressed that efforts to increase government revenue must preserve the conditions needed for exploration, mine development, continued production and employment. A stable, transparent and predictable fiscal and regulatory framework would help Ghana secure a fair return while encouraging reinvestment and protecting future revenue streams.

Nantogmah also emphasised that effective environmental governance, transparent regulation, responsible gold trading and investment competitiveness must advance together. These priorities, he said, reinforce one another and should guide reforms across the sector.

He urged stakeholders to examine the full chain of value creation, from mineral development and revenue collection to the allocation and use of those revenues. The ultimate test, he noted, is whether mineral wealth translates into better livelihoods, stronger institutions and sustainable development, particularly in mining communities.

On collaboration, Nantogmah said civil society’s research, scrutiny and community perspectives complement industry’s practical operating experience. Constructive engagement between these groups and government could help test assumptions, identify weaknesses and develop workable policy responses.

He reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to evidence-based dialogue and encouraged participants to question assumptions, listen to differing perspectives and identify practical areas for cooperation.

The dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to assess Ghana’s mining fiscal and revenue governance framework and explore how the country can create greater value from its mineral resources and share the benefits fairly

Newmont received three corporate awards at the National Public Relations and Communications Excellence Awards, organised by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana.

The awards recognised the impact of Newmont’s communications work in 2025, a transformative year in which the company’s Communications and External Relations function supported key business priorities, strengthened stakeholder relationships, and enhanced the company’s reputation through integrated communication campaigns.

Newmont was named PR Organisation of the Year – Extractive Sector, Corporate Communications of the Year, and Digital and Social Media Communications Campaign of the Year, making it the only extractive company to receive these recognitions at this year’s awards.

Communications that Supported Business Transformation
Throughout 2025, Newmont deployed communications across multiple channels to help employees navigate significant changes within the business, while strengthening stakeholder trust and brand positioning.

Key priorities that were supported with strong communications included the successful divestment of the Akyem Mine, a major organisational restructuring, integration of business units, promotion of safety and wellbeing initiatives, the commissioning of the Ahafo North mine, and the 10-million-ounce production milestone of the Ahafo South mine.

Through employee and leadership communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement, digital storytelling and reputation management, Newmont kept employees aligned and external stakeholders engaged during a period of transformation.

Individual Honours – Abigail Naa Karley Clegg
At the IPR awards, Abigail Naa Karley Clegg, Communications Specialist at Newmont, was also named Internal Communicator of the Year, adding an individual honour to the company’s three corporate recognitions. The award recognised her work in employee engagement, change communications, digital innovation, and safety and wellbeing communications during 2025.

Abigail joined Newmont in 2019, and has been driving several of the company’s storytelling campaigns, particularly on social media, as well as strengthening the effectiveness of internal communications.

The recognitions underscore the extensive role that Newmont and Abigail have played in advancing the value of strategic communications to business success.

The Concerned Farmers Association of Afrisipakrom, Terchire, Susuanso and Adrobaa in the Ahafo Region has strongly rejected Newmont’s petition to the Lands Commission describing the structures of 21 of its members as “speculative,” warning that the petition was deliberately delaying the payment of compensation approved under compulsory acquisition instrument Executive Instrument (E.I.) 273 of 2024.

Addressing the media at Terchire in the Tano North Municipality, Ahafo Region on Monday, November 2, the Chairman of the Association, John Mensah, said the farmers received a letter dated 9th June, 2026 from the Lands Commission informing their representatives that Newmont had submitted a petition claiming that some structures belonging to 21 members should not receive compensation.

There is also the separate case of other farmers whose lands and properties were taken under E.I. 356 of 2023. Those members have received no compensation at all,” he averred.

Consequently, the Commission asked for the Association’s comments to enable it to decide on the matter.

We also want to respond to Newmont’s petition to the Lands Commission describing our structures as ‘speculative’. We reject this claim. We are concerned that this petition is delaying the payment of compensation by the Lands Commission for our structures under compulsory acquisition E.I. 273 of 2024,” he said.

“Our position is clear: our structures are not speculative under either the mining laws or the Land Act. We strongly reject the claim that our structures are “speculative”. These structures existed long before Newmont planned to extend its mining operations into our area. We lived in them and used them for farming and other farming-related businesses. They were part of our everyday lives and the means by which we supported our families. It is deeply unfair to take our lands, destroy our properties and then describe those properties as “speculative” when it is time to pay compensation,” he declared.

According to the Chairman, the Association’s lawyer and valuers responded to the Commission’s request and rejected Newmont’s claim as unfounded.

THE LEGAL BATTLEGROUND: MINING LAW VERSUS LAND ACT

At the heart of the dispute is which law governs the compensation. Mensah explained that Newmont relied on the Minerals and Mining Act and an alleged cut-off date set in 2017 under the mining regulations to challenge compensation for the structures and describe them as “speculative.”

He said this position was “shocking and unfair,” because the process under the mining law had been abandoned in dealing with the farmers. He recounted that the Government had earlier granted Newmont a mining concession in the Tano North Municipality under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which was different from the State compulsorily acquiring the lands under the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036).

That grant was different from the State compulsorily acquiring our lands under the Land Act, 2020, Act 1036,” he explained.

He said that when the Government in 2023 proceeded under the Land Act to compulsorily acquire selected lands for Newmont’s mining operations and related activities, including lands belonging to members of the Association, the legal basis for compensation shifted.

The State had now acquired our lands under a different law, the Land Act. This meant that compensation for that compulsory acquisition must be assessed and paid under the Land Act. We therefore submitted ourselves to the procedures under that Act,” he stated.

“We find this shocking and unfair. This is because the process under that mining law had been abandoned in dealing with us and the State had instead used the Land Act, 2020, Act 1036, to acquire our lands for Newmont. We therefore question why Newmont is now returning to the earlier law to challenge payment for our structures,” he said.

THE LAND ACT DEFINITION OF “SPECULATIVE”

Mensah drew a sharp distinction between the two legal regimes, explaining that under the Land Act, a property was described as speculative only when improvements were made after the Government had published its notice to acquire the land.

We reject that approach in assessing compensation. Under the land law, Act 1036, a property is described as speculative when improvements made after the Government publishes its notice to acquire the land. It makes no reference to an alleged mining cutoff date,” he said.

He stressed that the Association’s structures were built long before any acquisition notice was published and that they are not speculative under either the mining laws or the Land Act.

SIGNED RECORDS CONTRADICT THE PETITION

The Association further argued that Newmont’s own representatives signed joint enumeration records during a 2024 exercise, contradicting the company’s current claim that the structures should not be compensated.

Mensah recounted that following the difficulties with the first acquisition in 2023, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources at the time established a Ministerial Committee including Nananom (Chiefs) from the affected communities, representatives of relevant state institutions, lawyers for affected farmers and Newmont, to discuss compensation in an effort to reach an agreement and avoid another compulsory acquisition.

As part of this process, he said, Newmont, the affected farmers and representatives of the Lands Commission jointly inspected, counted and recorded the affected crops and structures, supervised by the Committee chaired by the then Deputy Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission.

The crop records were completed and signed by the affected farmer, the chief farmer, a Newmont representative and a representative of the Land Valuation Division of Lands Commission,” he said.

“The structure records were also completed and signed by the affected farmer, the surveyor, representatives of the Land Valuation Division, a representative of the Resettlement Negotiation Committee and a Newmont representative. The properties identified as qualifying for compensation were then presented to the Committee,” he added.

The Chairman said these records form part of the evidence that must be considered fairly when deciding the claims.

We again draw attention to the joint records made during the 2024 exercise. Newmont’s representatives signed those records alongside the affected farmers and representatives of the Lands Commission. The records confirm that the structures were identified and recorded. They form part of the evidence that must be considered fairly when deciding our claims,” he stated.

A PROCESS COMPLETED, THEN STALLED

According to Mr Mensah, the compensation process had in fact been completed before Newmont’s petition. After almost two years of the second acquisition, in a letter dated 13th April 2026, the Lands Commission, through its Valuation Technical Committee, approved compensation amounts for crops, structures and lands acquired under E.I. 273.

There is also the separate case of other farmers whose lands and properties were taken under E.I. 356 of 2023. Those members have received no compensation at all,” he indicated.

With the farmers’ consent and approval, their lawyers and valuers accepted those amounts in a letter dated 24th April 2026 to the Lands Commission.

After going through these processes, we expected payment. Instead, we faced another obstacle,” the Chairman said.

He said the Association wants the Commission to resolve the outstanding issues without further delay and pay compensation for all structures under E.I. 273.

“We ask the Commission to resolve the outstanding issues without further delay and pay compensation for all our structures under E.I. 273,” he demanded.

The Chamber said the special-share provision highlighted in the Reuters report of September 30, 2026, is not a new legal requirement, although the proposed legislation seeks to re-enact the framework with tougher sanctions for non-compliance.

In a statement issued on October 7, the Chamber said Section 60 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), already empowers the Minister responsible for mines to require a mining company to issue a special share to the Republic for no consideration.

The provision, it explained, gives the State consent rights over specified major corporate transactions.

The power has therefore been part of Ghana’s mining legislation since 2006,” the Chamber stated.

The clarification follows a Reuters report headlined “Ghana bill would give state special share rights in mining firms, draft shows,” which examined provisions in the proposed legislation.

The Chamber said Clause 57 of the published Bill largely maintains the existing framework but materially increases the sanctions for non-compliance.

It stressed, however, that explaining the history of the provision should not be interpreted as endorsing the special-share power or how it may be exercised.

The Chamber has consequently asked Reuters to make clear that the power is not being introduced for the first time under the 2026 Bill.

Chamber highlights conflicting lease terms

The Chamber also raised concerns about the reporting of proposed mining lease durations, pointing to a difference between the Bill published by Parliament and a subsequent statement by the Government.

It said Clause 39(2)(a) of the May 2026 version of the Bill provides for an initial mining lease term of 15 years or the forecast life of the mine, whichever is shorter.

However, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources subsequently announced a different policy position at the Government Accountability Series on July 15, 2026.

Mining lease period is now fixed at 20 years maximum…” the Minister stated.

According to the Chamber, the statement reflects the Government’s later policy intention but does not automatically change the text of the Bill.

The material point for readers is the unresolved difference between the text published by Parliament and the Government’s later public statement,” it said.

The Chamber urged Reuters to acknowledge both positions and clarify that the 20-year maximum was the Government’s stated intention, rather than the wording contained in the published Bill.

Calls for accurate reporting

The Chamber said clear reporting on the proposed legislation was necessary to support informed public debate, particularly because international coverage of Ghana’s mining industry influences investment decisions and policy discussions.

It noted that the Bill contains substantive proposals requiring careful examination and said it would continue engaging the Government, Parliament and regulators on the implications for the mining sector.

The debate is best served when reporting distinguishes existing law from proposed changes and the text of a Bill from later ministerial statements about the Government’s policy intentions,” the statement said.

The Chamber also encouraged media organisations covering the sector to engage relevant institutions and accurately explain legal and policy developments.

It reaffirmed its support for reforms that strengthen governance, deepen Ghanaian participation and increase national value, while maintaining the predictability and competitiveness needed for responsible, long-term mining investment.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines represents companies involved in mineral exploration, production and processing in Ghana.

Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, Chief Operating Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, made the call while opening the 2026 PR, Environment and Sustainability Seminar in Kumasi.

Nantogmah said today’s better-informed and more skeptical public is unlikely to accept corporate assertions without proof, particularly as misinformation and disinformation circulate quickly.

People want evidence. Our task is not simply to tell people what mining creates; our task is to show it,” he said, calling on industry communicators to move “from publicity to proof.”

He pointed to the industry’s significant contribution to Ghana’s economy in 2025: over GH¢24.2 billion in fiscal revenue; roughly US$7 billion spent domestically, including about US$4.2 billion paid to local suppliers; and US$88.6 million invested directly in communities by Chamber member companies.

However, he said the critical issue was whether these numbers translated into visible improvements in mining communities.
“If we go into the mining communities, are we going to see that impact?” he asked.

According to Nantogmah, the sector’s real contribution should be evident in stronger local enterprises, improved livelihoods and infrastructure, sustainable employment, and opportunities communities can experience firsthand.

He further tied lasting impact to predictable policies, increased investment and stronger domestic value retention. In his view, high gold prices should enable Ghana to draw more exploration funding, increase output and prolong the operating lives of existing mines, instead of focusing chiefly on securing more revenue from current operations.

Nantogmah again called for Ghana to progress from local procurement to domestic manufacturing, observing that little value remains in the country when goods bought locally still rely heavily on imported components.

Donald Gwira, Vice President of the Institute of Public Relations Ghana and guest speaker at the Seminar, supported the emphasis on evidence and credibility by distinguishing reputation from trust.

Reputation is communicated, but trust is earned,” Mr. Gwira said, explaining that trust grows when an organization’s statements, conduct and stakeholder experiences align consistently.

He therefore called for public relations to extend beyond publicity and function as a core part of strategic management.
Gwira said communications professionals should participate early in organizational decisions so they can detect emerging issues, understand stakeholder expectations and help shape responses, rather than being brought in only after controversy develops.

The Seminar delivered a clear message: under growing public scrutiny, the mining industry’s credibility will rest not only on the size of its contribution, but also on its capacity to demonstrate concrete, measurable results.