A licensed mining company, Kofreze Construction and Engineering Limited, says illegal miners have forcefully taken over its legally acquired concession at Dadieso in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality, despite repeated petitions to state security agencies.
According to the company, the concession was lawfully acquired in 2024 after going through the required regulatory processes, giving it approval to operate small-scale mining activities on the site.
Co-Director of the company, Frederick Korankye, said operations began in 2025 but were later suspended due to financial and operational challenges.
He explained that the company later received reports that illegal miners had moved onto the concession, and upon returning to the site, they found excavators and bulldozers actively engaged in mining activities.
“We had information that illegal miners have taken over the concession because they think we were not active on the site,” he said.
Mr Korankye said the activities of the illegal miners have damaged equipment and assets belonging to the company, increasing financial losses and operational risks.
He further disclosed that the matter has been reported to the Ghana Police Service at both municipal and regional levels, as well as to the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
However, he said no decisive action has yet been taken to remove the illegal miners or secure the concession.
“Our cry is for the security agencies to protect our assets… we cannot be held liable for anything happening on the concession,” he stated.
The company warned that continued inaction could undermine investor confidence in Ghana’s mining sector and weaken respect for the rule of law in the extractive industry.
It is therefore calling on state authorities to urgently intervene and restore control of the concession to its rightful operators.
