A damming report has implicated the children of former Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, in a lucrative gold mining lease scandal.
According to Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, Mech Resources, a company owned by Frema Opare’s children, acquired the lease without meeting key requirements, raising serious questions about corruption and favoritism.
The report alleges that the Minerals Commission fast-tracked the lease process, disregarding crucial due diligence measures.
Mech Resources, with no prior experience in mining or related industries, was not required to provide evidence of skilled mining personnel or demonstrate financial capability to fund the $25.8 million initial investment.
Instead, the company submitted basic financial projections and a general outline of its plans, which was deemed sufficient for approval.
The lease covers 9,000 acres of gold-rich land, estimated to hold 475,000 ounces of recoverable gold, valued at approximately $1.38 billion.
However, Mech Resources’ feasibility study estimated total operational costs at under $100 million, suggesting the company stood to make over a billion dollars in pre-tax profits.
Simons also raised concerns about the company’s failure to disclose which specific water bodies would be affected by its mining activities.
Reports from investigative outlet The Fourth Estate have previously documented how mining concessions linked to Opare’s children have contributed to the pollution of major Ghanaian waters, including the Ankobra and Tano Rivers.
This scandal is not isolated, as four additional gold mining leases linked to the same family have also been fast-tracked.
In total, they have applied for 23 mining and prospecting licenses, with five already granted.
The report has sparked outrage, with many calling for accountability and transparency in the mining sector.
