The Accra High Court has quashed the decision by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, to revoke the mining exploration leases granted Exton Cubic.
The court presided over by Justice Kweku Ackaah-Boafo held the Lands and Natural Resources Minister exceeded his powers by assuming the powers of an adjudicator.
The Minister, according to the court, breached the rule of natural justice by not giving Exton Cubic, a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of former President John Mahama, a fair hearing, adding that the licence was properly acquired.
Consequently, the court held the minister’s action was unreasonable and capricious, hence quashed same.
The company was also seeking other reliefs including an order of injunction preventing the Ministry from granting the rights acquired by Exton Cubic Group to any other person but this was dismissed as the court lacked jurisdiction to make consequential orders.
Exton Cubic Limited last year went to court challenging the revocation of their mining lease by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister.
The Minister, John Peter Amewu, in September 2017 revoked the company’s licenses to prospect in the Nyinahini bauxite concession of the Tano Offin Forest Reserve, describing the company’s operations there as illegal because of invalid mining leases.
Lawyers for the company told the court that the Minister acted unreasonably by revoking the license without allowing the company opportunity to meet all requirements.
They prayed the court to order a restoration of the license.
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