A Ghanaian entrepreneur, Michael Benziecie, has formally filed a complaint with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), alleging fraud under false pretense against several prominent figures in Ghana’s mining industry.
The complaint names Martin Kwaku Ayisi, CEO of the Minerals Commission, Angela List, CEO of Adamus Resources Limited and Madam Rebecca Donkor.
According to the 10-page statement submitted to EOCO, Mr. Benziecie, who is a small-scale miner, claims he was misled, manipulated, and defrauded in an effort to secure mining access within the Adamus concession.
His account outlines a series of verbal assurances, financial transactions, and operational obstructions that he says culminated in the denial of access after meeting all stated conditions, including paying a $100,000 “goodwill fee.”
Key allegations include:
1. Unauthorized individuals allegedly granted access to the same mining coordinates Mr. Benziecie had been promised.
2. Payments allegedly made to intermediaries and executives, including a GHS 300,000 cash handover purportedly delivered to Angela List via Rebecca Donkor.
3. Evidence of illegal mining activities permitted within the Adamus concession, reportedly overlooked or enabled by top management.
4. Repeated disruptions of operations despite verbal clearance and production share agreements.
The complainant says he provided all required documentation, from concession coordinates to environmental plans, and paid production royalties into the official bank account of Adamus Resources Ltd.
Nonetheless, his operations were halted, personnel detained, and property destroyed by persons alleged to have impersonated military officers.
In the complaint, the businessman is demanding a full criminal investigation and has pledged to submit all supporting exhibits, including voice notes, WhatsApp chats, and financial records.
“This isn’t just business sabotage—it’s a coordinated scheme that undermines trust, regulatory integrity, and Ghana’s environmental commitments,” Mr. Benziecie stated.
Regulatory Silence and Political Undercurrents
The document also references alleged complicity by political figures, including the District Chief Executive of Nzema East and an unnamed Member of Parliament for Axim.
Mr. Benziecie says these individuals operated behind the scenes and benefitted from informal arrangements, including community mining shares.
As the EOCO proceeds with its inquiry, there are calls for greater transparency in Ghana’s mineral resource management.
If proven, the complaint could trigger a deeper reckoning within the country’s mining oversight frameworks.