The ongoing controversy surrounding gold trade debt scandal—resulting in accumulated obligations exceeding US$20 million involving Sesi-Edem Company Limited and JG Resources Limited has taken on another dimension.
However, a closer examination of documentation surrounding the gold trade debt dispute involving the two companies—Sesi-Edem Company Limited and JG Resources Limited indicates that several circulating narratives overlook critical financial and technical facts.
The growing gold deal dispute is drawing heightened scrutiny toward directors of Sesi-Edem Company Limited, including Volta Regional Member of the Council of State, Mr. Gabriel Adovoe Kwabla Kwamigah, popularly known as Tanko Kwamigah and Madam Patricia Awoonor, as unresolved discrepancies in assay records, export documentation, and financial reconciliation continue to generate serious commercial and governance questions.
At the centre of the controversy is a gold supply arrangement under which approximately GH¢ 57.7 million was reportedly paid by JG Resources Limited to Sesi-Edem Company Limited for 50 kilograms of gold, disbursed in three tranches between June and July 2025 pursuant to commercial invoices tied to export-linked transactions.
The dispute centers on a significant failure in contract performance, specifically regarding assay discrepancies—difference in gold purity/weight between the supplier—Sesi-Edem Company Limited and the accredited Dubai refinery, as well as outstanding supply obligations.
Records show GH¢ 57.7 million was paid for 50 kilograms of gold (June–July 2025).
The official Dubai refinery assay, which dictates final settlement, confirmed significantly less gold (29.2 kg) was delivered, leaving roughly 19.2 kg ($17 million equivalent) outstanding.
Allegations of forgery regarding documents used by JG Resources Limited have been categorically rejected by the company as reckless and unsupported by any regulatory or judicial finding.
Industry practice in international bullion trade typically requires rapid delivery due to volatile global gold pricing, meaning delayed supply can materially affect contractual performance and settlement exposure.
It has emerged that internal assay documentation attributed to Sesi-Edem Company Limited indicates a claimed supply of about 30.8 kilograms, valued internally at roughly GH¢35,543,200.
Even on those figures alone, this news outlet is reliably informed that the outstanding financial exposure stands at approximately GH¢ 22,156,800.
However, under the governing Sale and Purchase Agreement, settlement value is determined by accredited refinery assays at destination rather than supplier-generated documentation.
Refinery assay data from Dubai reportedly confirms supply closer to 29.2 kilograms, not the 30.8 kilograms cited in internal records.
Based on those reconciliation figures, documentation suggests an unresolved delivery deficit equivalent to roughly 19.2 kilograms of gold as of July 2025.
Requests for further independent verification, including calls for an assay reconciliation through GoldBod channels, have reportedly not produced supporting documentation to date.
Analysts note that delays in producing corroborating assay certification often intensify regulatory attention, particularly where export documentation, declared purity levels, and settlement calculations diverge.
Experts emphasise that in international gold trading, assay alignment determines valuation, contractual compliance, and final settlement exposure.
Differences between supplier origin assays and accredited refinery results routinely trigger disputes, especially where fine gold calculations materially affect payment reconciliation.
The matter has taken on an added governance dimension because of the involvement of a serving Council of State representative.
While public office alone does not imply wrongdoing, governance specialists note that politically exposed persons involved in high-value export transactions typically face elevated transparency expectations.
Where documentation gaps coincide with large financial exposure, scrutiny tends to intensify rapidly.
Some commentary has attempted to reframe the dispute around allegations of documentation irregularities involving JG Resources Limited.
Those claims remain publicly untested, with no regulatory or judicial determination confirming wrongdoing.
The JG Resources Limited maintains that its recovery position rests on contractual performance reconciliation, accredited assay verification outcomes, and outstanding financial settlement obligations.
Sources familiar with the commercial exchanges indicate that informal discussions once explored possible contract abrogation after global gold price movements complicated continued supply.
Refund negotiations reportedly followed but failed to produce consensus.
A structured dispute resolution pathway was later initiated yet did not yield settlement, reportedly amid growing regulatory interest in aspects of the transaction.
Industry observers caution that unresolved disputes involving export commodities of this scale carry broader implications for Ghana’s gold trade credibility.
Gold remains a cornerstone of foreign exchange inflows, fiscal stability, and investor confidence, making transparency in export documentation, assay verification, and commercial reconciliation critical.
For now, the controversy remains anchored in unresolved contract performance issues, assay discrepancies, and outstanding supply accountability.
Final resolution is likely to hinge less on public narratives and more on documentary verification, accredited assay certification, regulatory findings, and, if necessary, formal adjudication.
However, the details public explanations regarding the gold trade debt dispute involving Sesi-Edem Company Limited and JG Resources was aimed to set the record straight regarding what has been described as false claims by certain media houses attacking the integrity of JG Resources Limited.
JG Resources Limited and its directors are facing serious legal challenges and investigations regarding a US$17 million gold transaction with Tayvest-FZCO.
The allegations, which the company and its directors appear to be contesting, include the following:
Contempt of Court & Asset Freezing
The High Court in Accra is hearing a contempt case against JG Resources Limited and its directors—Papa Yaw Owusu-Ankomah, Maame Akosua Asama Kuranchie, and Kwaku Appiah Yeboah—for allegedly defying a court order issued in December 2025 to freeze bank accounts and deposit funds into court.
Alleged Forgery and Unauthorized Name Usage
Sesi-Edem Company Limited has accused JG Resources of using its corporate name, logo, and the signature of its Managing Director without authorization to facilitate the gold transaction with Tayvest-FZCO.
Investigated Gold Deal
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) are investigating the US$17 million deal, following allegations that the quantity of gold delivered did not match the amount paid.
The contempt proceedings are expected to continue in March 2026 to determine whether the company willfully disregarded court orders.
