Juaben MP Hon. Francis Owusu-Akyaw Presses Finance Minister Over Delayed Mineral Royalty Payments

Hon. Francis Kwabena Berepong Owusu-Akyaw, Member of Parliament for Juaben, has questioned the Minister for Finance on delays in the payment of mineral royalties to the Minerals Development Fund.

Rising in Parliament, the Juaben MP demanded timelines and reasons for the hold-up in transfers owed to the Fund, which finances development projects in mining-affected communities.

“Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Finance the status of delayed mineral royalty payments to the Minerals Development Fund,” Hon. Owusu-Akyaw stated.

The Minerals Development Fund is mandated to receive 20% of mineral royalties paid by mining companies and disburse them for community development, research, and monitoring in mining districts.

Concerns over irregular and delayed releases have been raised repeatedly by MPs whose constituencies host mining operations, with many arguing that the delays stall critical local projects.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has told Parliament that government has transferred GH₵402.4 million in mineral royalties to the Minerals Development Fund between January and June 2026.

He was responding to a question from Hon. Francis Kwabena Berepong Owusu-Akyaw, MP for Juaben, on the status of delayed royalty payments to the Fund.

“Mr Speaker, the most recent payment to the Minerals Development Fund was one hundred million cedis, which was made on the third of June twenty twenty-six,” Hon. Ampem told the House.

He added that government had already transferred GH₵302.5 million between January and May 2026.

“In addition to this, government transferred a total amount of three hundred and two point five million Ghana cedis between January and May twenty twenty-six, bringing the total transferred to the Minerals Development Fund this year alone to four hundred and two point four million Ghana cedis,” the Deputy Minister stated.

Hon. Owusu-Akyaw had asked when the Ministry last paid mineral royalties to the Fund, citing concerns from mining communities over stalled development projects.

The Minerals Development Fund receives 20% of mineral royalties for projects in mining districts, local governance, and mining sector institutions.

The Deputy Minister did not indicate whether the payments cover current-year obligations or outstanding arrears from 2025.