Yiadom Boakye Amponsah
Mining firm, FGR/Blue Gold, has urged the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to reinstate its Bogoso-Prestea mining lease.
Acting Managing Director of FGR/Blue Gold, Yiadom Boakye Amponsah, said the government revoked the company’s mining lease in September 2024, a move he indicated breached laid-down procedures and gave no room for a fair hearing given that FGR was still the legal leaseholder at the time.
Mr. Amponsah recalled that FGR/Blue Gold had earlier received a conditional approval to restructure its operations, but described the 120-day deadline imposed as unfair.
“We were raising a $150 million bond to clear debts, including employee arrears, and we also needed permits to operate. The ministry had committed to assisting us in obtaining those permits, but they failed to do so. At the end of the 120 days, they claimed we did not meet the conditions, even though they had not honoured their part of the bargain,” he explained.
He further disputed financial claims made by the Minerals Commission, insisting that reconciliations showed the Commission owed the company instead.
“Following that, we were denied access to our assets without any legal space to engage. Meanwhile, our plants remain on site … this, in our view, amounts to institutional galamsey,” he charged.
Mr. Amponsah revealed that FGR/Blue Gold has since raised an additional US$80 million to revive the dormant mine and settle outstanding debts. He urged the government to restore the company’s lease, noting that doing so would enable it to repay creditors and restart operations.
A Daily Guide Report