Some mining companies have described the move by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, who led a nine-member delegation to South Africa to lure investors into the country’s mining sector as a conspicuous way of forcing them out of business.

According to them, a statement issued by the Lands Ministry on Friday, February 2, indicated that the delegation will take part in the 2018 Mining Indaba Conference’s which was held in Cape Town from February 5 to 8.

At the conference, the Minister served as a key panel member in the session on Inter-governmental Forum for all African and Non-African governments, as well as other discussions around investment, transparency and international trade.

Prior to the conference, the sector Minister directed some mining companies to submit their mining documents for inspection by way of regularizing their operations.

Speaking to foxfmonline , some of the mining companies(names placed on ice) believe the Minister’s directive was an euphemistic way to force them out of their legitimate business.

According to them, they find his posture very suspicious and whether the minister’s action was not motivated by some personal interests which were geared towards bringing in his own investors from South Africa.

These mining companies are seeking to find out whether Mr. Peter Amewu, the ‘Galamsey Minister’ as he is affectionately called has any personal interest in the mining companies?

They alleged that the minister’s action may aim at compelling them under strict conditions to coerce them out of their legitimate business when he (Minister) is fully aware some of the mining companies have already started engaging investors and partners to expand their projects that will employ over 1000s of Ghanaians.

The African Mining Indaba conference according to the ministry is the world’s largest mining investment conference and the largest event in Africa but the general belief among these mining companies that Mr. Peter Amewu may be tempted to conceal deals with the foreign investors that will rather benefit him and not the state.

The conference which the minister and his team attended, from the statement, was dedicated to the successful capitalization and development of mining interests in Africa but according to the mining companies, will that lift the fortunes of the already registered businesses such as Owere Mining Company Limited at Konongo, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Perseus Mining Company Limited,Bibiani gold mines and others who are perfectly doing well?