The government has issued a seven-day deadline for Azumah Resources Ghana Limited and Engineers & Planners (E&P) Company Limited to amicably settle their ongoing dispute.

In a letter signed by Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah on July 10, both companies have been urged to end the public exchanges and instead focus on “constructive dialogue and responsible engagement.”

“I have decided to grant the parties a final period of seven (7) days within which to resolve the matter amicably. Should this period elapse without a mutually agreed resolution, a decision shall be taken in the best interest of the country,” the minister warned.

Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has acknowledged the minister’s response but is seeking clarification on what specific measures could be taken in the interest of the nation.

"We need the government to articulate clearly what that interest is and then explain from a policy standpoint how we will get there," he wrote in a post on X.

Mr. Simons has also questioned the legal grounds for Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah’s seven-day ultimatum to the two disputing organizations. "What is the legal and regulatory basis for the 7-day ultimatum?" he quizzed.

He pointed out that the case is already before arbitration and the local courts; hence, the government's role should be to "promote settlement through rational compromises on both sides," adding that such resolutions often take time and should not be rushed.

The ongoing dispute between Engineers & Planners (E&P) and Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd is about the takeover of the Black Volta Gold Project in the Upper West Region. This project is expected to be Ghana’s first large-scale gold mine owned by a local company.

Engineers & Planners, which is fully owned by Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama, is said to have signed an agreement in October 2023 to buy the gold project from Azumah Resources, an Australian company operating in Ghana.

To support the purchase and development, E&P secured $100 million from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), with an additional $30 million expected at the end of 2024.

The ECOWAS bank and E&P signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for this deal, and several top industry and government figures were present during the signing ceremony.

A well-known businessman, Sir Dr. Sam Jonah, who chaired the event, praised the deal as a proper business agreement and not political or based on favors and not influenced by backdoor dealings.

Ibrahim Mahama explained that although he was initially unsure about the project due to its long delays over the years, he later agreed to move forward after reviewing the plans and confirming the project’s potential. Since then, E&P has reportedly been paying $500,000 every month to fund the project as agreed.

Dr. George Donkor, President of EBID, also said the deal is purely for business growth, job creation, and economic development—not linked to politics in any way.

Despite the purported progress, disagreements have emerged between E&P and Azumah Resources. Azumah Resources has denied reports suggesting that Engineers and Planners has acquired or invested in its Black Volta Gold Project.

Managing Partner (Corporate Affairs) John Mason told the media on July 8 that "As it stands now, Azumah Resources is the sole owner of the Black Volta Gold Project, and we have not sold it, nor are we in the process of selling it. Our issue with the E&P is with the ICC, and we are waiting for the ICC hearing.”

Over the matter, Mr Bright Simons has cautioned that given the political undertones surrounding the issue, "it is important that decisions taken by the government be seen as impartial, level-headed, and truly supportive of sound governance."