A celebrated broadcast journalist and host of Dwaso Nsem on Adom FM, Omanhene Kwabena Asante, has launched a fierce and unreserved critique of the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC), Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, accusing him of blatant discrimination and selective application of policy in the allocation and termination of mining concessions.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Eko Siii Sen programme, the outspoken journalist described as “deeply troubling and indefensible” what he termed a pattern of calculated decisions that appear to favour politically connected individuals under the guise of promoting indigenous Ghanaian participation in the mining sector.
He argued that while government justified the abrogation of the Damang Goldfields contract on the basis of local participation, the subsequent reassignment of the concession to Ibrahim Mahama’s company, Engineers and Planners, raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and consistency in policy implementation.
Omanhene Asante, who’s also an active social advocate, further pointed to what he described as an emerging attempt to replicate the same approach in the Ghana Bauxite sector, where contracts held by wholly Ghanaian-owned entities, including that of businessman Isaac Ofori Poku, are allegedly being revoked to pave the way for the same beneficiary.
“This is not indigenization; this is selective empowerment,” he stressed, warning that such actions risk eroding public trust and undermining genuine efforts to build a competitive local mining industry.
In a sharply worded appeal, he called on the GIADEC CEO to “immediately reverse what can only be described as dubious and self-serving decisions” and restore the concessions to what he termed their “rightful custodians.”
“We all applauded when the government moved to take over a foreign-managed concession in the name of empowering Ghanaians.
But how do you justify taking from one Ghanaian and handing it to another with clear political ties?” he quizzed.
Omanhene Asante did not hold back in alleging that the perceived relationship between Ibrahim Mahama and Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah raises legitimate concerns about conflict of interest and behind-the-scenes maneuvering aimed at sidelining existing indigenous operators.
He cautioned that failure to address these concerns promptly could deepen perceptions of cronyism and unfair competition within Ghana’s extractive sector, urging authorities to uphold transparency, equity, and due process in all concession-related decisions.
President John Mahama, on 23 February 2025, appointed Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah as the Acting CEO of the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC).
GIADEC, established under the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation Act, 2018 (Act 976), is tasked with developing and promoting a globally competitive Integrated Aluminum Industry (IAI) in Ghana.
The corporation manages all of the Government of Ghana’s current and future investments in the aluminum sector, including its shares in the Volta Aluminum Company Limited (VALCO) and the Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC).
As part of its mandate, GIADEC establishes partnerships with strategic investors to ensure local participation across the entire bauxite and aluminum value chain.
The corporation requires that at least 30% of any new venture in mining, refining, or smelting be jointly owned by GIADEC and a Ghanaian private partner.
The IAI initiative includes four major projects, involving the expansion of two existing operations and the development of two new ones through joint ventures.
Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, a lawyer with extensive experience, assumes the leadership of GIADEC at a crucial time.
His expertise spans multiple legal domains, including the extractive industry, real estate, medical negligence, corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, family law, and criminal defence.
Mr. Ankrah holds an LLM in Energy Law, an LLB, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with Sociology, all from the University of Ghana.
Before his appointment, he was a partner at Morrison, Twumasi & Partners, where he led the firm’s dispute resolution and litigation division.
Over the years, he has provided legal advisory services on investment analysis, energy and mining policies, compliance, and legal risk management.
He has also played a crucial role in assisting clients with project financing, debt restructuring, and obtaining regulatory approvals.
With his wealth of experience and strategic problem-solving skills, Mr. Ankrah is expected to provide strong leadership to GIADEC as it navigates the complexities of the aluminum industry and advances Ghana’s ambitious IAI agenda.
About GIADEC
GIADEC is a state-owned company responsible for developing Ghana’s integrated aluminum industry.
The company’s portfolio of assets includes mining rights to all of Ghana’s 900 million tonnes of bauxite reserves, 100% shares in VALCO – Ghana’s smelting company, and an interest in Ghana Bauxite Company Ltd, a producing mine that has been operating for over 70 years.
Through strategic partnerships, GIADEC will hold equity stakes in new mines and refineries to be established and drive integration of the bauxite-aluminum chain to create value.
GIADEC is guided by its core values of integrity, respect, and excellence in execution. The company believes in shared prosperity, sustainability, and adherence to responsible environmental and operational practices.
