A shocking petition filed with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has cast a dark shadow over Ghana’s mining sector, placing Angela List, the controversial CEO of Adamus Resources Limited, squarely in the crosshairs of a deepening $100,000 fraud allegation.
Sources close to the investigation reveal that List, along with a board member (allegedly fraudulent), stands accused of orchestrating a deceptive scheme that has left a small-scale miner out of pocket and a high-profile government official implicated.
The explosive allegations, brought forth by businessman Michael Benziecie, paint a damning picture of betrayal and alleged corruption.
Benziecie claims he was personally introduced to Angela List by none other than the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Martin Ayisi.
This introduction, he alleges, was the gateway to a purported deal for access to a lucrative mining concession managed by Adamus.
Adamus, a company owned by Business man, Paul List has been at the Center of controversy since 2020, with wife Angela List using her connection with various state actors to arm-twist her husband with the aim of hijacking the company for herself.
According to Benziecie, Ms. List and her colleague, Rebecca Donkor, promised him entry to the coveted site in exchange for a staggering $100,000.
He asserts he made the full payment in two installments, meticulously detailing a initial $50,000, followed by a final $50,000 to complete the hefty sum.
But the plot thickened when Benziecie, having fulfilled his end of the bargain, found himself inexplicably barred from the concession.
Security personnel, he recounts, physically obstructed his access, leaving him bewildered and frustrated. His attempts to reach Angela List and Rebecca Donkor for clarification were met with a stunning denial – both women, he claims, flatly disavowed any knowledge of such an agreement.
Efforts to seek redress from the Takoradi Police and even the Minerals Commission itself, the very institution headed by Mr. Ayisi who made the initial introduction, have reportedly proven futile. Benziecie suggests a disturbing lack of interest from these bodies in pursuing his concerns.
The unfolding drama suggests Ms. List’s alleged involvement goes beyond a simple misunderstanding. The Herald Ghana’s additional reporting sheds further light on the matter, indicating the alleged fraud stemmed from Benziecie’s desperate attempt to recover an earlier failed investment in an unproductive concession near the Adamus site.
It was in this desperate state, after direct attempts to contact Madam List proved unsuccessful, that Benziecie turned to Minerals Commission CEO Mr. Ayisi in February 2024 for assistance. Mr. Ayisi, reportedly moved by Benziecie’s plight, facilitated a meeting with Ms. Donkor in March.
It was during this meeting that a “goodwill payment” of $100,000 was allegedly agreed upon, with $50,000 upfront and a 20% stake in the operation – a stake reportedly to be divided as 15% for Madam List and 5% for Ms. Donkor.
Convinced of the deal’s legitimacy, Benziecie submitted all necessary paperwork and made the first $50,000 payment on March 19. He later met Madam List herself in East Legon, where she allegedly provided further assurance and requested additional documentation.
However, the illusion shattered when, after submitting his official proposal and the GPS coordinates of his preferred site, Benziecie discovered the same land had been controversially allocated to a rival group led by one Kojo Bumba.
This alternate deal, it is alleged, was secured through a separate $100,000 payment, reportedly brokered with the help of Axim MP, Catherine Afeku.
When confronted, Ms. Donkor reportedly admitted contact with the Axim MP but feigned ignorance of the Bumba group’s claim. Despite this, she allegedly promised to resolve the escalating issue.
EOCO sources have confirmed receipt of Benziecie’s explosive petition, although official responses from the Minerals Commission and Adamus Resources Limited remain conspicuously absent.
The New Republic will continue to follow this developing story closely. More details to emerge as this high-stakes scandal unravels.
By Prince Ahenkorah