Businessman, Akwasi Addai Odike, has said business mogul and philanthropist, Ibrahim Mahama holds the key to resolving the challenges in Ghana’s mining sector.
He said that although the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government revoked Mr. Mahama’s lease to the concession, it proves that there is no viable alternative to extracting the bauxite apart from Mr. Mahama.
“Look at the unprecedented work Ibrahim Mahama is doing in this country. Just consider the roles he’s playing today. After reclaiming the bauxite concession from him, have they been able to mine it? Now, they are seeking foreign nationals to do it, but it hasn’t yielded any results.
“Ibrahim Mahama is one of the most knowledgeable figures in this country. So President John Mahama should not waste time—he should immediately award that contract to his brother,” Odike remarked on the Angel Morning Show on Monday, May 26, 2025.
When asked whether awarding the concession to Ibrahim Mahama wouldn’t pose a conflict of interest, given his relationship with President Mahama, Odike dismissed the concern.
He argued that in critical situations like the one the country currently finds itself, competence must take precedence over personal connections.
“The NPP had that contract and failed. So, do you want the youth to remain unemployed just because it’s John Mahama’s brother who can deliver? Is he not a human being?” Odike questioned.
The businessman further noted that Ibrahim Mahama is deeply admired by many Ghanaians, describing him as a “God-sent” to the country and urged President Mahama not to hesitate in granting him the concession.
“So, I’m imploring John Mahama to act as soon as possible and award the concession to Ibrahim Mahama so he can extract the bauxite for us. Even if the country earns just $1 annually from it and it helps employ the youth, I would prefer that.
“We hold your brother in high regard because he is a blessing to this nation. Don’t look elsewhere. The NPP’s failure only confirms that he is the competent person with the solution,” he added.
Background
Exton Cubic Group Limited led by Ibrahim Mahama brother of President John Mahama was controversially granted a long lease concession by the previous government on December 29, 2016 a few days for it to hand over power to the new government after its defeat at the polls.
The company moved heavy-duty machines into the forest near Nyinahin with intent to start exploratory activities, but was stopped by both the district and regional authorities after agitations by the youths in the area.
Since then, there have been a lot of legal battles regarding the right of the company to mine.
In the ensuing tussle between the youth and the company over right of the company’s Mahama’s right to enter the Nyinahin Forest Reserve, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), issued a statement saying that the company had not obtained the required permit to enable it to mine bauxite in the area.
The state was of the opinion that the instant application violated Article 88(5) of the 1992 Constitution and was to that effect incompetent.
The Attorney General is arguing that “There was no publication of notice of the pendency of the application for the prospecting licence in the Gazette as required by Section 13(2) and (3) of Act 703 and Regulation 177 of Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2012 (L. I. 2176).”
They also maintained that “Failure by applicant to obtain the relevant environmental permits before the purported grants of mining leases in respect of the areas constituting about 79% of the nation’s known bauxite resources, among other statutory violations, is very serious, having regard to the activity applicant sought to engage in – mining.”
“Pursuant to an application made in April, 2015, the applicant was on 24th December, 2015 initially issued with prospecting licenses under Section 34 of Act 703 for a term of two (2) years in respect of the following areas: Kyekyewere – 56.64 sq.km; Mpasaso – 22.46 sq.km and Kyirayaso – 32.68 sq.km.
“There was no publication of notice of the pendency of the application for the prospecting licence in the Gazette as required by Section 13(2) and (3) of Act 703 and Regulation 177 of Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2012 (L. I. 2176).”
