Tensions in the mining community of Gbane have reached a boiling point as a protracted dispute between two mining companies pushes over 2,000 workers into hardship and leaves residents fearing for their safety. The Alliance for Gbane Development, representing youth, small-scale miners, women, and traditional rulers, has issued a stark warning to President John Dramani Mahama and the Inspector General of Police: restore state security immediately, or the community will defend itself.
The crisis, now in its eighth week, pits Nalaamtaba Enterprise, a small-scale mining firm operated by Zongdaan Boyak Kolog, popularly known as Poloo, against Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited, a large-scale Chinese-owned mining company . At the heart of the dispute is a 25-acre concession that both parties claim, leading to a legal battle that has spiraled into a security nightmare .
A Court Order, Expired License, and Disappearing Police
The Bolgatanga High Court, presided over by Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie, issued an order on November 21, 2025, directing the Ghana Police Service to provide security for Nalaamtaba Enterprise to carry out mining activities . This ruling came despite significant documentary evidence that Nalaamtaba’s mining license over the concession expired on May 14, 2025, and had not been renewed by the Minerals Commission .
The Minerals Commission itself has stated it has no record of a valid renewal application from Nalaamtaba, noting that the procedure used was flawed and did not comply with guidelines under L.I. 2176 . Adding to the regulatory confusion, the Chief Inspector of Mines issued a stop-work order on September 2, 2026, suspending all underground mining activities at the Gbane and Adakoto sites for two weeks to allow for investigations into the boundary dispute .
However, the Alliance for Gbane Development argues that the enforcement of the court order has been deeply problematic. While the court mandated police protection, community leaders allege that the police have since abandoned the site, leaving behind armed men who are neither police officers nor registered security operatives . These armed guards have been accused of assaulting community members, seizing property, and engaging in reckless behavior, including an incident where an armed guard allegedly shot himself in the foot .
“The police have disappeared, leaving armed men who are neither police officers nor a registered security company operatives to provide the protection,” stated Mr. John Kpal Bognaab, Secretary of the Alliance, at a press conference on September 5 .
‘We Are Not Partisans, We Are Citizens Defending Our Home’
The group emphasized that it respects the judiciary and is not seeking to overturn the High Court’s ruling. However, they are demanding the immediate replacement of the untrained armed guards with professional police officers, as originally ordered by the court .
The tension erupted into a near gun battle on August 30, 2026, when angry youth clashed with the armed guards of Nalaamtaba . The situation required the intervention of the Upper East Regional Police Commander and a team of heavily armed military personnel from Bolgatanga to prevent a full-blown conflict .
“That day, it took the intervention of the Almighty God and the elders of Gbane to prevent bloodshed. We are restraining our youth. But restraint has limits. The State must act before it is too late,” Mr. Bognaab warned .
Economic Devastation and Calls for Intervention
The dispute has had a crippling economic impact on the community. Over 2,000 workers from Earl International have been sent home following the stop-work order, leaving families without income . The Alliance has questioned why the Chief Inspector of Mines’ prohibition notice extended to mining areas far from the disputed zone, effectively punishing a legal mining establishment for the actions of a company without valid mineral rights .
“What should close to 2,000 workers be doing during this period? Why should an entire legal mining establishment be halted because of the actions of an entity that does not hold a mineral right?” the group asked in a statement .
The Alliance has submitted a formal petition to President Mahama, outlining four key demands: provision of state security as ordered by the court, enforcement of Minerals Commission directives, investigation into the assault on community youth, and government protection against the risk of inter-communal conflict .
Background: A History of Tension
The Gbane area has been a flashpoint for conflict since the Minerals Commission designated it for large-scale mining only in 2015 . Earl International obtained a 14-year mining lease covering 16.02 square kilometers in April 2019, but a 25-acre small-scale license was later issued to Nalaamtaba within that same area in May 2020 .
In July 2021, an agreement was reached for Earl International to pay affected small-scale concession owners, including Nalaamtaba, 2% shares of gross production, accompanied by goodwill payments . However, the agreement unraveled, leading to the current legal and physical confrontation.
The Talensi District has also seen a rise in armed robbery and violence linked to mining activities, with the Paramount Chief recently setting up vigilante groups to assist the security services . The situation in Gbane now threatens to ignite a larger inter-communal conflict if not swiftly addressed.
“We are not partisans in a commercial fight. We are citizens defending our home. We do not seek conflict. We seek order, justice, and peace,” Mr. Bognaab declared . As the community awaits a response from the presidency, the clock is ticking to prevent what many fear could become an uncontrollable crisis.
