Rocksure Nyinahin Bauxite Lease Cancellation showed Policy inconsistency, Unfairness and Bad Institutional Integrity

General
The “Ghana First” philosophy remains the cornerstone of the Better Ghana Agenda continua, as being championed by Major Mohammed Bogobiri (rtd), on the online portal of Modern Ghana. Currently, at its core, is the Resetting Agenda, which is a governance vision of President Mahama, the Constitutional Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The Resetting Agenda represents a deliberate national effort to recalibrate attitudes and values and it is anchored on Inclusivity, Transparency, Accountability, Patriotism, Honesty, Fairness and Discipline.

Fundamentally, the Resetting Agenda is a tool for Economic, Political and Social transformations. It seeks among others, to dismantle the entrenched “Pull Him Down” (hereafter as PHD) syndrome, to shift from an affiliate-first government to a Citizen-first government by relying on fair treatment, predictable policy and a renewed commitment to policy of local ownership (Nationalization or Domestication) otherwise participation hence institutional integrity.

It thus fosters a renewed sense of trust in the Nation, its Leadership, its Institutions and trust in local investors/local business owners, local entrepreneurships. Such a shift is essential for effective Economic, Political and Social transformations, ultimately, effective economic development thus advancing sustainable national progress.

This vision of Ghana aligns with the long-standing aspiration for the creation of “New Citizens,” as espoused by President Kwame Nkrumah. In that regard, the Resetting Agenda can be interpreted as a moral and civic call to national renewal.

Within this framework, President John Dramani Mahama, as the constitutional Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is positioned as a central figure in advancing this agenda. His leadership, as perceived by proponents, embodies a guiding philosophy aimed at among others, nurturing a Citizen-first government, responsible citizenship and national accountability and the killing of corruption and the PHD.

From a governance and constitutional perspective, it is imperative that all stakeholders align with the principles of lawful authority and institutional integrity, as reflected in the spirit of the Holy Bible at Romans 13:1, which underscores the legitimacy of constituted authority of a nominated Leader.

A broader governance perspective requires that the Resetting agenda be evaluated through policy coherence, fairness, and adherence to constitutional processes for Strategic National Interest in all sectors of the economy, particularly within Ghana’s extractive sector. A case study is the matter of ownership of the Nyanahin Bauxite Lease as initiated by the previous regime and strangely cancelled by the current regime, with the apostles of a Resetting Agenda, without a credible genuine cause.

Nyanahin Bauxite Lease
So, a key test of the Resetting Agenda, lies in the handling of the Nyanahin bauxite lease.

Retired Major Mohammed Bogobiri, who is a disciple of the Resetting Agenda, so, he has publicly urged government to revisit the matter, calling on the President to direct the sector minister to facilitate the return of the lease to Rocksure International and ensure its ratification by Parliament.

The concern raised is one of policy inconsistency and unfairness. While government is, emphasizing local ownership of strategic mining assets, say the Damang Mine, similar commitment appears less evident in the Nyanahin Concession case. This perception is further amplified when compared with developments surrounding the Ewoyaa lithium lease.

. So, at the heart of this appeal is an interest for policy consistency, transparency and fairness, and thus arrest a perceived double standards, particularly when juxtaposed, the current demand for local ownership of the Damang Mine, the ratification of the Ewoyaa lithium lease for a foreign Company with developments surrounding the Nyanahin Bauxite Lease, where a Ghanaian Giant Mining contract Company based in the same Region with Nyanahin , namely Rocksure International, owned wholly by a Ghanaian, namely Mr Kwasi Osei Ofori, which won an opened International and Local Competitive bid, as offered by the State in 2019, was denied Ownership due to a Flimsy excuse that it was not ratified by Parliament

From a governance and national security standpoint, such inconsistencies risk: (a).Undermining investor confidence. (b). Weakening the credibility of local content policies through an agenda of promoting indigenous ownership or participation in strategic sectors (c). Creating uncertainty within Ghana’s extractive sector.

Background: Competitive Process and Strategic Investment

In 2019, the Government of Ghana, through public advertisements in both local and international media, hence through an open bidding process, invited investors for the development of the Nyanahin Bauxite Project. The requirements included:

1. Establishment of a bauxite mine and processing facilities.
2. Development of an alumina refinery Solution to supply VALCO or for export
3. Extension of railway infrastructure from Dunkwa to Nyanahin to support the Project.

The investment structure required a partnership with the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation, forming a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as the Ashanti Bauxite Ltd, with a 30% stake for the State, to be held by GIADEC and 70% stake for the investor.

Out of 47 competing firms—including ALCOA of USA, which is one of the biggest Bauxite Mining, Smelting and Alumina Refinery in the World and a Ghanaian-owned Contract Mining Company, as Rocksure International. Rocksure International emerged as the successful bidder.

Ownership, Stakeholders, and Local Capacity

. Advocates argue that strengthening indigenous ownership and local participation in the mining sector, aligns with the broader Resetting Agenda and Ghana-first principles. They point to the capabilities of local firms such as: (a). Ofori Opoku Company Ltd. (b). E&P. (c). Rocksure International. (d). BCM International (e). ERDMAC, These companies, they contend, have demonstrated capacity to deliver on large-scale mining and infrastructure projects.

The Nyanahin lease was therefore expected to evolve Ghanaian ownership, So New Citizens especially the Ashantehene, a champion for Ghanaians owning Large Scale Mining Concessions and Mines were very elated when they heard that Rocksure International owned by Mr. Kwasi Osei Ofori, a Ghanaian entrepreneur with investments across multiple sectors won the bid.

Subsequently, Rocksure International undertook significant preliminary works, including Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE), feasibility studies for the Mine, Refinery Solution, and planned the Refinery Solution at Mpassao. The Company held stakeholders engagement, notably with the Asantehene. An agreement was reached and as required under Article 268 of Ghana’s Constitution, it was submitted to Parliament for ratification. However, both the Nyanahin Bauxite Lease and the Ewoyaa Lithium Agreement encountered delays, largely due to controversies surrounding a proposed 10% royalty rate.

Legal Framework and the Royalty Debate

A major point of contention has been a proposed 10% royalty rate in both the Nyanahin and Ewoyaa agreements. It is important to clarify that the applicable legal framework—Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2015 (Act 900)—provides flexibility, allowing royalty rates at or above a 5% baseline, so that the determined rate is based on the negotiation skills of the Parties and the global situation.

This replaced the earlier rigid structure of a fixed 5% under Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 794). Therefore, the 10% royalty provision in both the Nyanahin Bauxite Lease and the Ewoyaa Lithium Lease Agreements was not inherently unlawful but rather subject to negotiation, and Ratification by Parliament to make it both legally and constitutionally bidding.

Parliamentary Ratification and Constitutional Mandate

In 2025, the Sector Minister denied Rocksure International Ownership of the Nyanahin Bauxite Lease due to a Flimsy excuse that it was not ratified by Parliament but accepted the Ewoyaa Lithium Lease with same issues of the dispute on the 10 percent royalty and as such not ratified by Parliament for consideration and with alacrity got fine-tuned with the resultant ratification by Parliament in March 2026.

. It is important to say that Ghana’s constitutional framework clearly delineates institutional roles as follows. (a). The Executive negotiates and submits agreements. (b). Parliament ratifies or rejects them (c). The Judiciary determines legality where disputes arise.

This cancellation of the Nyanahin Bauxite Lease, due to not ratified by Parliament was not a declaration made by the Supreme Court, that is when its jurisdiction was evoked, but it was strangely made by the Executive, that is the Arm of Government, whose constitutional duty as stated above is to negotiate and submit Mining agreements to Parliament for ratification.

So, the Sector Minister by arrogating himself a Constitutional power to declare Rocksure International’s Nyanahin Bauxite Lease as void but amazingly, with alacrity duly submitted the Ewoyaa Lithium Lease to Parliament for ratification, though it has the same problem of royalty and not ratified by the previous Parliament matters, demo inconsistency in the mining policy regarded as clothed with unfairness.

Consequently, the Sector Minister’s action in 2025, strongly offended the Resetting Agenda of Dear President Mahama, who on 4 April 2026, at the Kwahu Business Forum confirmed his strong stand to ensure the protection and security of Ghanaian businesses, thus signaling a true New Citizen, hence a true father for all. By this positive signal, President Mahama with the vision of Resetting Agenda, has clearly demo his compliance with the Oath for the Office of the President of Ghana to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution including and not limited to the provision at Clause 1 of Article 1 of the 1992 Constitution, which stated that Government should be exercised for welfare or Wellbeing of the people of Ghana.

A Call for Alignment with the Resetting Agenda

Retired Major Mohammed Bogobiri, a supporter of the Resetting Agenda, has therefore urged a reconsideration of the Nyanahin lease in line with Ghana-First principles hence his Better Ghana Continua.

So, he further links this call to the broader economic vision being advanced by the President with the support of the most forward looking and hardworking, Chief of Staff, of the 4^th Republic, namely Hon Mr. Julius Debrah, a philanthropic person par excellence, a brain behind the innovative Kwahu Business Forum which has come to stay as yearly economic and networking forum with the aim of attracting investment especially in the manufacturing sector and strengthening the private sector regarded as primary engine for economic progress.

Conclusion: Resetting in Practice
Both the Nyanahin bauxite lease and the Ewoyaa lithium agreement were not ratified by the 8th Parliament during the administration of President Nana Addo

In March 2026 in the Regime of President Mahama with his Resetting Agenda, a very a good message from God, Parliament ratified the Ewoyaa lithium agreement of a foreigner or foreign company namely Atlantic Lithium. ,

Currently, the Sector Minister is proclaiming and manifesting his eagerness to see to the local ownership of the Damang Mine, effective 18 April 2026, but the Nyanahin lease, awarded to a Ghanaian company, was denied by him, on grounds that have generated legal and policy debate.

The argument or answer is straightforward: policy credibility depends on consistency and fairness and the genuineness and credibility hence the sustainability of the Resetting Agenda hinges on Government is a continuous process.

Precedents exist where agreements not ratified by one Parliament but they have been revisited and reconsidered approved by subsequent ones. Two example are. firstly, the one on the two Political prisoners from Cuba, allegedly as suspected terrorists by the US Government, who were brought to Ghana in the first regime of President JD Mahama. But the Agreement was ratified by Parliament in the first regime of President Nana Addo.

The second one is the Ewoyaa Lithium Lease not ratified by the 8^th Parliament in the regime of President Nana Addo but ratified by the 9^th Parliament in the era of President JD Mahama. These two examples demo Ghana’s political maturity with a laudable idea that Government, by its nature, is a continuous process, hence an essential ingredient for the success of the Resetting Agenda, which is the vision of President Mahama, whose tour of duty ends on 07 January 2029.

In this context, the issues of the Rocksure International’s Nyanahin lease, presents an opportunity for the current administration to instil confidence in Ghana’s legal and policy frameworks and to demonstrate commitment to local ownership of Large Scale Mining Leases and thus align action with the principles of the Resetting Agenda. Thus not only to correct perceived inconsistencies and unfairness but also to demonstrate: a firm commitment to Ghana-first policies and the credibility of the Resetting Agenda.

Ultimately, the strength of the Resetting Agenda will be judged not by its rhetoric, but by its consistency, fairness, and adherence to the rule of law, hence very good governance.

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