Cassius Mining Limited, an Australian gold mining company, has escalated its legal battle with the Ghanaian government by filing a $277 million claim at the London Court of International Arbitration.

The dispute centers on alleged breaches of contract and constitutional conflicts related to the company’s gold exploration project in Talensi, located in the Upper East Region.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com, the conflict began in 2019 when the Ghanaian government refused to renew Cassius Mining’s prospecting license, citing constitutional non-compliance. Authorities argued that the license had not been properly ratified under Ghanaian law, rendering it invalid. Cassius Mining disputes this, claiming the government’s actions deprived them of the full value and potential earnings from their project.

To support its claim, the company relied on assessments from independent experts, such as AMC Consultants in Australia and Secretariat in the United States, and arrived at the $277 million compensation figure.

The legal battle has been complex. In 2023, Ghana’s High Court issued an injunction barring Cassius Mining from seeking international arbitration. Later, the court ruled that under the terms of the prospecting license, the company could not pursue arbitration outside Ghana. Despite these setbacks, Cassius Mining pressed forward with its claim at the London Court of International Arbitration, maintaining its right to seek an international resolution.

Cassius Mining’s Managing Director, David Chidlow, expressed confidence in their legal strategy. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, he stated, “We look forward to progressing the case and achieving a successful outcome for the benefit of shareholders and the company, whether that be at a hearing or through an earlier settlement.”

The Ghanaian government is expected to respond by filing its defence, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal showdown.