Mining consultant Ing. Wisdom Gomashie says he plans to petition President John Mahama over what he describes as a growing pattern of regulatory approvals being granted to operators who later struggle to mobilise adequate funding for mining projects.

He said the situation has become increasingly common in Ghana’s mining sector, warning that it is contributing to operational setbacks, community unrest and rising pressure on regulators.

“We have seen a rise of people taking over mining companies… and the next moment the people are not able to raise the necessary funds to mine,” he said.

Gomashie said failed transitions often trigger public demonstrations against mining firms, even when the underlying challenge relates to financing capacity at the time of licensing.

He argued that this dynamic shifts scrutiny away from the regulatory approvals that initially clear companies to operate.

“And I will be petitioning the president soon,” he said, adding that the issue could have wider implications for investor confidence and borrowing costs in the sector.

His comments come as divisional chiefs in the Bogoso-Prestea mining area petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, calling for the mine to be placed under the control of a financially strong investor capable of restoring operations.

In a petition dated 18 March 2026, the chiefs described the mine as a strategic national asset that has suffered setbacks despite the award of mining leases to Heath Goldfields Limited in December 2024.

They said expected redevelopment progress had not materialised, raising concerns among communities dependent on the mine for jobs and economic activity.

Gomashie linked such cases to broader governance risks, urging stronger due diligence in the licensing and investor vetting process.