CMS-PRO Industries & Construction Limited and A&A Southern Industries Limited have mounted a robust defence of their acquisition of the Osiem and Nsutam mining concessions, insisting that the transactions were processed through the established regulatory framework and received the necessary government approvals.
The two companies have also rejected allegations that they deployed armed men and National Security personnel to raid the mining sites, warning that they will pursue legal remedies against individuals whose public statements they consider false, damaging and potentially defamatory.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, October 31, 2026, the companies said their acquisition of the concessions previously associated with Narawa Mining Company Limited was supported by official correspondence from the Minerals Commission, ministerial approval and the subsequent issuance of Notices of Grant of Mining Lease.
Their response comes amid growing controversy over the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the mining rights, with lawyer Martin Kpebu and other public commentators raising concerns about the operations and the alleged involvement of armed personnel at the concessions.
However, CMS-PRO and A&A Southern Industries maintained that their applications were not the product of an unlawful transfer of mineral rights, insisting that they neither bypassed the regulatory process nor independently conferred mining rights upon themselves.
*Minerals Commission correspondence*
Providing details of the transaction, the companies disclosed that their engagement with the Minerals Commission followed enquiries into the administrative and regulatory status of the Osiem and Nsutam concession areas previously associated with Narawa Mining Company Limited.
According to the statement, the Minerals Commission, in a letter dated September 5, 2025, informed them that Narawa had failed to comply with certain obligations under the applicable regulations and mining lease agreements, including the payment of mineral right fees.
The Commission reportedly indicated that some of the breaches had not been remedied within the stipulated 120-day period, describing the leases as “not to be in good standing, albeit valid.”
It further communicated that applications over the affected areas would be considered on a “first-come-first-considered basis.”
CMS-PRO and A&A Southern Industries said the Commission’s correspondence informed their decision to pursue the concessions through the formal application process.
*Applications and government approval*
The companies disclosed that CMS-PRO submitted application APL-M-246 on September 26, 2025, covering the Nsutam area in the Fanteakwa South and Abuakwa North districts of the Eastern Region.
On the same date, A&A Southern Industries submitted application APL-M-247 for approximately 22.72 square kilometres, comprising 108 blocks in the Osiem area.
They said the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources subsequently approved the Minerals Commission’s recommendations for their respective applications through letters dated August 5, 2026.
Following the ministerial approval, the Minerals Commission issued Notices of Grant of Mining Lease to both companies on August 13, 2026.
CMS-PRO’s notice covered the Nsutam concession and specified a mineral right fee of US$362,700, in addition to the applicable annual ground rent.
A&A Southern Industries also received its Notice of Grant, together with invoices covering the relevant statutory fees and charges, including mineral right fees and annual ground rent.
Both companies said they had settled the invoices issued by the Commission, maintaining that the documentary trail demonstrated compliance with the applicable administrative requirements.
“These documented steps demonstrate that our applications were processed through the established regulatory channels. We did not bypass the application process or independently confer mineral rights upon ourselves,” they stated.
*Armed raid allegations*
Beyond defending the acquisition of the concessions, the companies took particular exception to allegations attributed to Kpebu and other commentators that armed men and National Security personnel had been deployed to raid the mining sites.
They insisted that efforts to protect their business interests and address illegal mining activities were being pursued through relevant state institutions and appropriate lawful processes.
They therefore rejected attempts to portray such engagements as unlawful raids, arguing that serious allegations involving identifiable companies and their directors must be backed by credible evidence.
“Legitimate public scrutiny is welcome, but serious allegations concerning identifiable companies and their directors must be supported by credible evidence and presented fairly,” the statement said.
The companies also expressed concern over what they described as attempts by Kpebu to introduce Alfred Mahama, brother of President John Dramani Mahama, into the controversy in a manner that could create the impression that political connections influenced the acquisition of the mining leases.
“We categorically reject any such insinuation,” they stated.
They maintained that their applications followed the prescribed institutional processes and denied benefiting from any undue political advantage.
*Legal action*
CMS-PRO and A&A Southern Industries warned that they would not allow what they consider false and damaging allegations against their businesses and directors to go unchallenged.
They reserved their respective rights to pursue appropriate legal remedies against statements they consider defamatory and actionable under the law.
The companies further urged Kpebu and other public commentators to exercise caution and responsibility when discussing the matter, stressing that public scrutiny should be grounded in verifiable facts and a fair presentation of the relevant records.
*Business investment and job creation*
Despite the controversy, the companies said their focus remained on developing the mining concessions, which they described as an undeveloped mining asset with significant investment potential.
They pledged to deploy adequate financial resources, technical expertise and responsible mining practices to revive the asset and unlock its economic value.
According to them, the development of the concessions could generate sustainable employment opportunities for communities surrounding the mining areas while contributing to Ghana’s broader economic development.
They maintained that the controversy should not undermine legitimate business investment and the opportunity to develop the mining asset through lawful and responsible operations.
The companies reiterated that the acquisition process, including the Minerals Commission’s regulatory correspondence, ministerial approval, issuance of the mining lease notices and payment of statutory fees, should be assessed against official records and the applicable legal framework.
TBM
