The Alliance for Gbane Development has raised serious security concerns over an ongoing mining dispute between Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited and Nanlamtaaba Enterprise in Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
The Alliance says tensions in the community have intensified over the past eight weeks following the enforcement of a High Court order directing the Ghana Police Service to provide protection and assistance to Zongdaan Boyak Kolog, popularly known as Poloo, who operates as Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, to undertake mining activities in Gbane.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Secretary of the Alliance, John Kpal, said the group respects the court’s authority but believes the enforcement of its order must be accompanied by measures to preserve peace and stability in the community.
“While we respect the decision of the court to administer justice where it deems right, we strongly are of the view that dispensing justice must be at the same wave length with peace and stability.”
The Alliance alleged that the security situation worsened after police personnel stopped providing protection, leaving armed men whom the group says are neither police officers nor operatives of a registered security company to provide security for Nanlamtaaba’s activities.
Mr. Kpal alleged that three young men from Gbane were assaulted by armed security guards associated with Nanlamtaaba after they were seen sitting under a tree in an area Nanlamtaaba claims belongs to it. He said the incident nearly escalated into a wider confrontation before the intervention of the military and community elders.
“Just recently, three young men of our community were assaulted by armed security guards of Nanlamtaaba and Poloo, merely because they were spotted sitting under a tree around a place Nanlamtaaba claims belongs to them. Their singular action nearly turned Gbane into a war zone if not for the intervention of the Military and Elders of our community. We cannot continue to live in fear in our own community.”
The Alliance also alleged that personnel carrying pump-action firearms entered the underground workings of Earl International, during which one of Nanlamtaaba’s armed guards sustained a gunshot wound to the foot and had to be carried out of the mine by Earl’s security personnel.
The concerns come amid a two-week suspension of underground mining operations in the Gbane mining area. The Minerals Commission issued the prohibition notice after a September 2 meeting, ordering Earl International and Nanlamtaaba to cease underground mining operations for two weeks because of heightened safety concerns linked to their dispute. Essential activities, including dewatering and ventilation, are permitted to continue during the suspension.
The Alliance questioned the scope of the directive and its potential impact on workers at Earl International, which it says employs close to 2,000 people.
“This second order by the Chief Inspector of Mines has further instructed all underground mining operations by Earl to stop. We appreciate the reason behind this stop work order by the Chief Inspector of Mines, but we ask, why extend the stop work order to cover mining areas that are substantially far away from the disputed area? What should the close to 2,000 workers be doing within this period? Why should an entire legal mining establishment be stopped because of the actions of one who does not hold a mineral right?”
The group is calling for the enforcement of regulatory directives, investigations into the alleged assault on the three youth and other incidents, and the deployment of professional security personnel if state protection is required to enforce the court order.
Mr. Kpal said the Alliance was not seeking to overturn the High Court’s decision, but wanted the relevant state institutions to ensure that enforcement of the order did not compromise community safety.
“We are not asking the President to overturn the High Court’s ruling. That is not his role, and we respect the judiciary.”
The Alliance said it is submitting a petition to President John Dramani Mahama to draw attention to the situation and seek intervention. Mr Kpal urged the state to act before the tensions escalate further, while stressing that the community does not want conflict.
“We do not seek conflict. We seek order, justice, and peace.”
The Alliance urged the relevant state institutions to protect lives and property, enforce applicable mining regulations and ensure that any mining activity arising from the dispute is conducted within the law and under appropriate security arrangements.
The allegations against Nanlamtaaba, Poloo and their security personnel are claims made by the Alliance and have not been independently established in this report. Nanlamtaaba, Earl International, the Ghana Police Service, the Minerals Commission and other relevant parties have the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised.
A1 Radio|101.1 MHz|Simon Ayamdoo|Gbane
