Ghana’s mining sector is once again in the spotlight as Bodukwan Holding Company Limited faces mounting scrutiny over its operations. An investigation by The Fourth Estate has revealed that the company lacks key regulatory approvals, including an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit and a Water Use Permit from the Water Resources Commission (WRC), despite evidence of extensive mining activities on its concession.
Bodukwan Holding, which obtained a prospecting license in June 2023 to explore gold in Moseaso, Odumase in the Western Region, was granted a three-year period for exploration. However, satellite imagery suggests that full-scale mining has been ongoing, a violation of Ghana’s mining laws. The Minerals Commission, which oversees mining regulations, has refused to provide a list of companies with operating permits, further raising concerns about transparency. Following six months of consultation with the minister, the company was granted three years to conduct exploration on an area the size of 250 football pitches. There is significant overlap between this concession and the Tano River, a vital source of water for communities in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Corporate records from the Office of the Registrar of Companies reveal strong ties between Bodukwan Holding and the Manhyia Palace. The company’s beneficial owner, Nana Duah Bonsu, serves as a co-director alongside Mujeeb Rahman Ahmed, a legal representative for the palace, and Julia Ama Adwapa Amaning, widely known as Lady Julia, the wife of the Asantehene. These connections have intensified public interest in the company’s activities and its regulatory standing.
The Asantehene’s Response
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, recently expressed concerns over unauthorized mining on his concession, claiming that illegal miners had overrun the site without his knowledge. His remarks, made during a meeting with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, have drawn further attention to the issue, with many questioning how such activities could take place unchecked.
“I have heard that the concession Ayisi [former chief executive of the Minerals Commission] granted me has been overrun by illegal (galamsey) miners. But I don’t even know the place,” he said on February 14, 2025, when the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, visited him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
“The concession was given to me, and I intended to develop it, only to hear that illegal miners had taken over,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu added.
Under Ghanaian law, companies holding concessions are responsible for preventing unauthorized mining on their land. Environmental advocates argue that silence or inaction in the face of illegal mining could indicate either complicity or negligence. Kwaku Afriyie, Technical Director at WACAM, stressed that companies must actively report illegal activities to regulatory authorities and secure their concessions.
Similarly, Sandow Ali, Director of Mining at the EPA, underscored the necessity of securing four essential permits before mining operations can legally commence. He warned that obtaining a ministerial license alone does not grant a company the right to mine, and that any activity without full regulatory compliance is unlawful.
With clear evidence of mining activity on Bodukwan’s concession and its lack of full regulatory approval, the government faces increasing pressure to act. The Asantehene’s public frustration underscores a broader issue: illegal mining continues to flourish, even on high-profile concessions. The coming weeks will reveal whether authorities will take decisive action or if this case will add to the growing list of unresolved mining controversies in Ghana.
