High Court quashes Lands Minister’s revocation of Exton Cubic mineral leases at Nyinahin

The Accra High Court has quashed the decision of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, Mr John Peter Amewu, to revoke the mining lease granted to Exton Cubic to explore bauxite at Nyinahin in the Ashanti Region.

According to the court, presided over by Mr Justice Kweku T. Ackah Boafo, the Minister acted unreasonably, unfairly and in a capricious manner when he revoked the mineral leases.

The Minister, the court held, should have given Exton Cubic the opportunity to be heard before revoking the leases.

“The first respondent (Minister) failed to give hearing to the applicant (Exton) which is a breach of natural justice” the presiding judge said.

The ruling by the court followed an application for certiorari filed by Exton Cubic seeking the court to quash the decision of Mr Amewu to revoke the mining leases on September 4, 2017

Exton Cubic Group Limited led by Ibrahim Mahama brother of former 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.

Mr Amewu on September 20, 2017 wrote a letter to the company revoking the mining leases.