Talensi: Minerals Commission orders Nanlamtaaba Enterprise to halt mining in Gbane

The Minerals Commission has directed Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, a small-scale mining company, to immediately suspend all mining activities in the Gbane/Datoko area of the Talensi District in the Upper East Region.

The directive was contained in a letter dated September 7, 2026, and signed by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Isaac Tandoh.

According to the letter, the company’s continued operations in the area had become “untenable and inimical to the lawful operations of approved large-scale mining companies operating in the area”.

The government’s action follows growing insecurity, underground confrontations and community tensions in Gbane after the enforcement of a Bolgatanga High Court order directing that Nanlamtaaba Enterprise be provided with police protection to undertake mining activities.

The development has attracted public attention because the company is reported not to possess a valid mining licence and the mandatory permits required to operate in the area.

The dispute over the mining concession between Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, a large-scale mining company, and Nanlamtaaba Enterprise has persisted for some time, prompting calls for government intervention.

The Minerals Commission explained that the entire Gbane/Datoko area had been deblocked and designated for large-scale mining, making small-scale mining activities impermissible.

“As you are aware, the area is no longer designated for small scale mining operations. The Datoko area was deblocked to allow for large scale mining operations in 2016 and is no longer available as a designated small scale mining area following the deblocking process,” the letter stated.

The Commission further noted that all small-scale mining licence holders in the area had been compensated during the deblocking exercise, including Nanlamtaaba Enterprise.

“You may also recall that as part of the deblocking process, all holders of small-scale mining license within the area were compensated, including your good selves. Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited made payment(s) to Nanlamtaaba Enterprise as part of the process, a fact admitted by the company in its Statement of Claim in the case of Zongdaan Boyak Kolog vrs Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited & 5 Ors”.

The Minerals Commission warned that failure to comply with the directive would compel the relevant state institutions to take lawful and reasonable measures to enforce the order.