Cassius Mining Ltd. has contested the appointment of Professor Richard Oppong as Ghana’s arbitrator in an ongoing international arbitration case.
The case involves claims of approximately $277 million in damages for alleged breaches of contract and statute by the Government of Ghana.
According to a report by Daily Graphic, the challenge, filed on October 23, 2024, was based on concerns regarding Professor Oppong’s independence and impartiality.
The report stated that the grounds for the challenge were that Prof. Oppong had been nominated to the Supreme Court of Ghana and failed to disclose this nomination, raising “reasonable doubts” about his impartiality.
On January 17, 2025, the Tribunal members ruled that Cassius’s challenge was justified and admissible.
They stated that the “overall circumstances relied upon by [Cassius] in support of its challenge give rise to reasonable cause to doubt the arbitrator’s independence or impartiality.”
In response to the Tribunal’s invitation to step aside voluntarily, Prof. Oppong agreed to resign.
The Tribunal then invited the parties to discuss the procedure and timelines for appointing a replacement arbitrator.
James Arkoudis, Chief Executive Officer of Cassius Mining Ltd., responded positively to the resignation, stating, “The resignation of Prof. Oppong is a significant step in maintaining the integrity of the arbitral proceedings, and we welcome Prof. Oppong’s offer to resign as a Tribunal member.”
The arbitration case originated from a memorial filed by Cassius on December 23, 2024, outlining claims supported by witness statements and expert reports.
The company is seeking damages of approximately $277 million for alleged breaches of contract and statutory obligations by Ghana.
Cassius and its legal counsel are now considering the next steps, including the appointment of a replacement arbitrator and the potential implications of the successful challenge for the case.
Source: Ghanaweb