The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) has categorically denied media reports suggesting that the government has cancelled a $1.2 billion bauxite mining lease allegedly awarded to local mining firm, Rocksure International.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Ministry and signed by its Director of Communications, Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, the claims were described as “false, baseless, and misleading,” asserting that no such lease ever existed to be cancelled.
The Ministry clarified that contrary to reports, Rocksure International does not hold a valid mineral lease for bauxite mining.
According to the statement, the supposed lease, along with other pending agreements related to Ghana’s bauxite sector, was never ratified by Parliament as required under Ghanaian law.
The Ministry pointed to a 2019 ruling by the Supreme Court which affirmed that all mineral leases must be ratified by Parliament to have legal effect. Therefore, in the absence of parliamentary approval, the purported lease was never valid in the first place.
“The Ministry wishes to state emphatically that there is no bauxite mineral lease granted to Rocksure International that has been cancelled, because there was never one ratified in accordance with the law.”
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR)
The reports, which have gained traction across social media and several news portals, suggested that a major state-backed agreement worth $1.2 billion had been terminated, raising questions about government commitment to supporting indigenous participation in the extractive sector. But the Ministry dismissed the valuation as entirely fabricated.
The Ministry said, “No official valuation has been undertaken to arrive at such a figure,” adding that the alleged $1.2 billion project value was a “grossly misleading and unsubstantiated” figure, seemingly designed to provoke unnecessary public alarm and create confusion over Ghana’s bauxite development efforts.
GIADEC Strategy Remains Intact
Addressing the broader implications of the misinformation, the Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to Ghana’s integrated aluminium development agenda and underscored the ongoing strategic role of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC).
It noted that GIADEC continues to spearhead efforts to develop key infrastructure required for a fully functional aluminium industry, including the construction of the Western Rail Line, upgrades to the Takoradi Port, the establishment of an alumina refinery, and the modernisation of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO).
According to the Ministry, GIADEC is actively working with various investors and partners to ensure the realisation of Ghana’s aluminium industrialisation goals.
It insisted that no official decision had been taken to cancel or reverse any segment of GIADEC’s operational or investment strategy.
In its strongly worded response, the Ministry also criticised the lack of journalistic rigour in the publication of the story, expressing concern about what it termed a “growing trend of speculative and unsubstantiated reportage” in sections of the media.
The Ministry took particular issue with the failure of the reporting outlets to seek verification or comment from the principal institutions named in the report namely, the Ministry itself, GIADEC, and Rocksure International.
The Ministry asserted, “The reports being circulated fail to reference any credible source and merely attribute claims to unnamed individuals,” describing the incident as a deliberate attempt to undermine institutional credibility and sow public distrust.
“These unfounded allegations appear designed to malign the Ministry and GIADEC, undermine public trust, and potentially discourage investor confidence.”
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR)
Rocksure International, the indigenous Ghanaian firm at the centre of the controversy, has yet to release an official response. However, company sources suggest they were equally blindsided by the media reports and are awaiting further clarification.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for media outlets to observe higher standards of accuracy and accountability, especially in matters involving national strategic industries.
With Ghana’s bauxite and aluminium sector representing a potential game-changer in the country’s industrial and economic development, officials say the spread of misinformation threatens to derail progress and deter investor interest at a critical time.
The Ministry urged the public to disregard the false claims and affirmed its intention to pursue Ghana’s resource-driven development agenda in a transparent and legally compliant manner.
It also encouraged media practitioners and the general public to verify information with official sources before circulating potentially damaging reports.
As Ghana continues to position itself as a hub for value-added mineral processing and exports, stakeholders say clear, consistent communication and lawful adherence to due process will be key to building trust and sustaining momentum in the sector.
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