The Ahanta Traditional Area has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama over growing concerns regarding resource control in Ahantaland in the Western Region.
The local authority laments the emergence of unauthorized mining concessions and political interference on their lands; a situation they claim is depriving indigenes of their ancestral and birth rights.
At a press conference in Agona Nkwanta, the traditional capital of Ahantaland, Nana Azulo Prah –the Otumfuo Badu Bonso Ahantahene Stool Supi and President of the Ahanta State Asafo Authority, accused politically connected individuals of acquiring vast tracts of land without the consent of the allodial owners, the Ahantahene Stool.
Speaking on behalf of the Tumivulo Badu Bonso Stool, Nana Azulo Prah specifically raised alarm over a 65-square-kilometer concession at Tunmento Abase Princess lands, which he claims was approved for large-scale mining for a company called Bomdwen and subsequently transferred to another individual named Darko—all without consultation.
“Aside from that, my search at the Minerals Commission shows that a company called Hotopo Resources, formed in 2022, has acquired a prospecting license covering from Ntaakrom to Akyenim on the Cape Three Points stretch, as well as the Butre Ahuntumano enclave. All these were done under the previous administration,” he noted.
Nana Azulo Prah focused heavily on the Mpeasem Concession, which has become a flashpoint in the ongoing dispute. According to him, the concession was previously assigned to Eagle Eye Mining Limited under the previous administration as a community mining scheme. However, the license was revoked in 2025 by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, led by Hon. Emmanuel Armah Buah, over procedural irregularities.
“Your Excellency John Mahama, two of such community-acquired concessions granted without the notice and approval of the Otumfuo Badu Bonso Stool under the previous government are the Tontu Concession, assigned to BND Resources, and the Mpeasem Concession, which was assigned to Eagle Eye Mining Limited but was revoked in 2025 when your government took office,” Nana Azulo Prah noted.
The chief revealed intelligence suggesting that powerful interests are scheming to have the Eagle Eye Mining license reinstated. He warned that the company is perceived as a “pro-NPP funding machinery” aimed at destabilizing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ahanta West area.
“…some political and influential hands are scheming to take the land and concession away from my youth, who want to use the place for their cooperative mining,” he stated.
He further alleged that nine separate concessions were acquired in Ahanta West alone by political figures, including a former MCE for Ellembelle, Chairman Wontumi, and other NPP leaders—under the guise of the Community Mining Scheme. This, he claimed, resulted in youth being ejected from their ancestral lands with the assistance of security operatives.
Nana Azulo Prah made a passionate appeal to the President, the Western Regional Minister, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to ensure that the revoked Mpeasem concession is handed over to the youth of Ahanta for a legitimate cooperative mining scheme.
“I cannot remove my own intestine and wrap it in cotton, as the adage goes, so I and the youth of Ahanta are begging you to ensure that the Mpeasem concession is given to the youth of Ahanta for their cooperative mine. We also request that concessions like Ewusiejo, Akyenim, Ahuntumano, Butre, Chavrene, and Ntaakrom be allocated for cooperative mining for the Ahanta people,” he pleaded.
The traditional authority warns that the youth are growing increasingly restless as they watch their ancestral resources being allocated without their input or consent.
It is unacceptable to grant mining concessions from Accra without consulting our chiefs – Asantehene
By Portia Cudjoe
