Exposé: The AG Marketing Mining License Scandal – A Case of Corporate Fraud and Regulatory Failure
In March 2025, Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources received a damning legal petition from Randolph Forbes Ballard Jr., Esq., a U.S.-based attorney with Simbal Law Group International. The letter exposed a multi-decade fraud scheme involving the unlawful seizure of a gold prospecting license belonging to AG Marketing Company Ltd. (AG Ghana), a legally registered Ghanaian company founded by Ghanaian businessman John Simpson. A Golden Opportunity Stolen: The AG Ghana Saga In the bustling corridors of Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, a storm was brewing in March 2025. A letter arrived from Randolph Forbes Ballard Jr., Esq., a respected U.S. attorney. Its contents were explosive: Ballard detailed a sweeping fraud that had, for decades, denied AG Marketing Company Ltd. (AG Ghana) its lawful gold prospecting license. AG Ghana’s story began in 1988, when John Simpson and Antonio Croom established the company. Their big break came in 1989, when Ghana’s Minerals Commission granted them a coveted gold prospecting license. But what should have been a story of entrepreneurial success quickly turned into a cautionary tale of betrayal and corporate intrigue. The Original License and the Corporate Hijacking Behind the scenes, Antonio Croom allegedly betrayed his partner. In 1995, Croom is alleged to have fraudulently coaxed Minerals Company to reissued AG Ghana’s license under the name of A.G. Marketing Inc. of Maryland, a U.S. company that had been dissolved five years prior. Without Simpson’s knowledge or consent, the Maryland company was then rebranded as Vista Mining Corporation as if it has had a name changed to Vista , setting in motion a tangled web of deception. Reports from Tennessee company registry indicates that Antonio Croom is not a director of Vista Mining Corporation but one William Pettigrew from Surry and Vancouver, Canada a director of Vista Mining Corporation and former director of Ashanti Sankofa is masterminded everything. The Tennessee Deception As investigators dug deeper, more troubling facts emerged. Vista Mining Corporation, which claimed rights to the Ghanaian license as early as 1989, wasn’t even registered in Tennessee until 1992 and in Ghana as an external in 1994. Despite this, Vista presented itself as the successor to the Maryland entity, though records showed the two were entirely separate. Alongside its affiliates, Ashanti Sankofa Inc. and Norcan Mining Corporation, Vista’s was taken over by Ashanti Sankofa Inc formerly known as AMI Resources Inc mounted its signage on AG Marketing Company Ltd’s gold concession at Adumasa without registration as an external company in Ghana and used the report from the gold concession to trade shares on Vancouver Stock Exchange and succeeded in raising millions of dollars as indicated in news releases published by Ashanti Sankofa/AMI Resources while bypassing local laws. Fraud Has No Time Bound And Vitiates everything Vista and Ashanti Sankofa continued to possess the concession for another 27 years, with regulatory bodies turning a blind eye, since several letters written to Vista and Ashanti Sankofa to explain how the licenses were transferred to them has not been answered to date. The Legal Petitions of 2025 The saga gained renewed attention in 2025, when two legal heavyweights intervened alongside police criminal investigations. 1. Randolph Forbes Ballard Jr.’s Petition (March 2025): Ballard’s letter laid out a damning case: fraudulent backdating of documents, a fake resolution issued by an unrelated third party, and fugitive directors, some of whom were hiding in the UK and Canada, who had evaded police summons. Ballard demanded the immediate reinstatement of AG Ghana’s license, a manhunt for the directors, and disciplinary action against corrupt officials. 2. Hensen Kwadwo Kodua’s Follow-Up (July 2025): In July, Hensen Kwadwo Kodua, a Ghanaian Supreme Court solicitor, doubled down on these claims. He highlighted the Minerals Commission’s failure to perform due diligence, noted that Ashanti Sankofa and Norcan Mining had no legal claim to the concession, and revealed that the Ghana Police CID had opened an investigation, though the suspects remained at large. Regulatory Failures The AG Ghana case exposed serious flaws in Ghana’s mining sector oversight: The Minerals Commission approved transfers without proper verification. Unregistered foreign entities were allowed to exploit Ghana’s natural resources with impunity. Where the Fight Stands Now The Ghana Police have now reached out to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, seeking guidance as their investigation continues. Yet, the illegal license transfer remains in place. For John Simpson, the battle isn’t over, he continues his long quest for justice and the restoration of AG Ghana’s rightful mineral rights. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Bar Association Refutes Claims of Snubbing President Mahama for 2025 Annual Conference
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has firmly dismissed reports alleging that it failed to invite President John Dramani Mahama to its forthcoming 2025 Annual Conference slated for Wa in the Upper West Region. In a statement from the Association’s National Secretariat, the GBA described such publications as “false, misleading, and a misconception of facts,” urging the public to verify information before circulation. The Association clarified that President Mahama was officially invited as Guest of Honour and has confirmed his attendance at the event. According to the GBA, the invitation process began with an informal approach during a courtesy call on the President in March 2025. This was followed by a formal invitation sent on July 21, 2025, and acknowledged by the Presidency on July 29. The Presidency subsequently issued an acceptance letter on August 1, 2025. The Association explained that initial conference notices are typically sent to members prior to receiving responses from invited dignitaries. Upon receiving President Mahama’s confirmation, the GBA promptly circulated an updated notice on August 8, explicitly stating that the event would be held under the President’s distinguished patronage. Addressing concerns about inviting the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, the GBA noted that collaborations with international legal bodies are standard practice. The Association cited longstanding relationships with organisations such as the African Bar Association, International Bar Association, Nigerian Bar Association, Sierra Leonean Bar Association, Law Society of Kenya, and the American Bar Association. Reaffirming its neutrality, the GBA emphasised its non-partisan stance, underscoring its commitment to the Constitution of Ghana and the rule of law. “The GBA will not undermine the authority and dignity of the office of the President of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement concluded. The clarification was jointly signed by Mrs. Efua Ghartey, National President, and Kwaku Gyau Baffour, National Secretary, on behalf of the Association’s National Officers. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Maxwell Konadu Appointed Head Coach of Black Satellites
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially appointed Maxwell Konadu as the new head coach of the Black Satellites, the country’s U-20 national football team. Konadu, known for his extensive experience in both local and international football, steps into the role with a clear mandate: to rebuild the youthful side and prepare them for upcoming continental and global competitions. With a background that includes serving as assistant coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars, Konadu is widely regarded for his tactical acumen and dedication to player development. The GFA expressed strong confidence in Konadu’s ability to lead, emphasizing that his expertise and leadership will be instrumental in restoring the Black Satellites’ reputation as one of Africa’s most formidable youth teams. The association looks forward to a new era of success under his guidance, as the next generation of Ghanaian football talent takes shape. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ministry of Health Postpones Centralised Nursing and Midwifery Exams to September 2025
The Ministry of Health has officially announced the postponement of the Centralised Nursing and Midwifery Licensing Examinations, now scheduled for September 4, 2025. The decision comes after a consultative meeting involving the Minister for Health, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI). In a significant departure from earlier plans, the Ministry revealed that the examinations will now take place within the respective training institutions, returning to a previous arrangement. According to the Ministry, this approach will ensure smoother participation for candidates and allow the NMC to supervise the process more closely. Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh explained that the move was aimed at minimising the risks and challenges associated with students traveling long distances to centralised exam centres. He emphasised that it was not appropriate for candidates to cross regions for the exams and assured that the Ministry would provide all necessary logistics to guarantee a seamless examination process. A revised timetable and detailed guidelines are expected to be released soon by the NMC. The Ministry extended its appreciation to all candidates, training institutions, and stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding during this transition. The announcement was made in a statement signed by Tony Goodman, Deputy Director and Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
MP Dafeamekpor Accuses Ghana Bar Association of Bias Over 2025 Annual Conference
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi and Majority Chief Whip, Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has publicly questioned the impartiality of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), alleging clear bias in the organisation of its upcoming 2025 Annual Conference. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Mr Dafeamekpor highlighted a notable break from recent tradition. From 2017 to 2024, he observed, the then-sitting President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was “nearly always the Special Guest of Honour and Speaker” at the GBA’s annual events. This year, however, the President of Ghana is conspicuously absent from the roster of advertised speakers. Instead, the GBA has extended an invitation to the President of the Bar Council of England & Wales—a move Dafeamekpor finds particularly controversial. He claims that this foreign legal association had “recently attacked this Government without any provocation.” With a touch of sarcasm, the MP further suggested that the GBA invite the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association to “add effect” to what he perceives as a pattern of partiality. “Your unalloyed bias against President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress government is too glaring to be ignored now,” Dafeamekpor declared. “You can continue to act as a wing of the main opposition party New Patriotic Party(NPP), to do its bidding; we are ready for you.” His remarks have sparked renewed debate about the GBA’s neutrality and its role in Ghana’s political and legal landscape. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Dr Razak Kojo Opoku Questions the Integrity of NPP Presidential Primary Poll
Dr Razak Kojo Opoku, representing the UP Tradition Institute, has cast serious doubts on the reliability of a recent survey conducted by Musa Dankwa and his organization, Global Info Analytics. The poll, which aimed to gauge support among candidates in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primary, presented results that Dr Opoku found deeply troubling. According to the published figures, Vice President Bawumia led with 52%, followed by Ken with 17%. Bryan received 3%, Adutwum was at 1%, while Kwabena, Boakye, and Nimo each registered 0%. The survey also recorded 10.7% of respondents as undecided and 9% who did not disclose their preference. However, Dr Opoku noticed a glaring issue: the total percentage tallied only 92.7%, leaving 7.3% of responses unaccounted for. Seeking to address this, he considered the possibility that the three candidates recorded at 0%—Kwabena Agyepong, Boakye Agyarko, and Francis Addai Nimo—might each have received 1% of the vote. Even with this adjustment, the sum only reached 95.7%, still leaving a 4.3% discrepancy. “This gap raises serious concerns,” Dr Opoku emphasized. “How can a poll claim a 99% confidence level with a plus 2.44 margin of error when the arithmetic itself does not add up? Such discrepancies undermine the credibility and integrity of the entire survey.” Dr Opoku’s pointed critique has sparked a conversation about the accuracy of political polling and the importance of transparent data analysis in shaping public perception. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama and UN Chief Discuss Ghana’s Progress and Regional Security at TICAD-9
President John Dramani Mahama met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9). Their discussions focused on deepening multilateral cooperation, Ghana’s ongoing economic recovery, and the rising security challenges in West Africa. During the meeting, Secretary-General Guterres praised Ghana for its active engagement within the United Nations and applauded the country’s steadfast pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. He also highlighted Ghana’s pivotal leadership roles in both ECOWAS and the African Union, especially in addressing crises affecting the Sahel region. Guterres encouraged President Mahama to continue promoting collective, regional approaches to these complex challenges. President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s strong commitment to multilateralism and called for further democratisation of the UN, emphasizing the need for a more representative and effective global body. He informed the Secretary-General that Ghana’s economy, after facing a recent crisis, is showing signs of rebound, with debt restructuring measures underway to ensure long-term stability. The President expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), citing a recent orientation for newly appointed ministers, supported by the UNDP, as part of the government’s efforts to drive the “Resetting Ghana Agenda.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com