Interview with Karl Smithson, CEO of Hamak Strategy
Hamak Strategy (LSE:HAMA) (USOTC:HASTF) is positioning itself for significant growth following encouraging due diligence results at its Akoko Gold Project in Ghana, located on the world-renowned Ashanti Gold Belt—one of the most prolific gold-producing regions globally.
In a recent interview with The Watchlist, Karl Smithson, CEO of Hamak Strategy, discussed the company’s strategy, the importance of the Akoko project, and the steps the company plans to take to unlock value for shareholders.
A Focused Gold Exploration Strategy
Hamak Strategy is a London-listed gold exploration and development company with a strong focus on West Africa, particularly Liberia and Ghana.
“Our focus is on gold exploration and development across West Africa,” Smithson explained. “We have traditionally been active in Liberia, but we expanded into Ghana late last year. Ghana is one of the most significant gold-producing countries in Africa.”
In addition to its mining activities, the company also pursues a Bitcoin accumulation strategy, holding the digital asset on its balance sheet as part of its broader financial strategy.
Strategic Entry into Ghana’s Ashanti Gold Belt
The company’s Akoko Gold Project sits on the southern end of the Ashanti Gold Belt, a geological formation famous for hosting multiple multi-million-ounce gold deposits.
“Ghana produced around five million ounces of gold last year,” said Smithson. “Being located on the Ashanti Belt puts us in an exceptional address, surrounded by major gold discoveries and producing mines.”
For Hamak Strategy, the move into Ghana represents both geographic diversification and an opportunity to build on its experience in West African geology.
Advancing Towards a JORC-Compliant Resource
A key next step for the company is a reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme designed to confirm and expand the project’s existing resource base.
Previous work at Akoko has already identified a non-compliant resource of approximately 250,000 ounces of gold, with mineralisation located at shallow depths.
“Our plan is to carry out confirmatory drilling, infill drilling, and potentially some expansion drilling,” Smithson explained. “The current resource sits within the top 50 metres, which suggests a strong potential for open-pit mining.”
The company also believes the deposit could extend both at depth and along strike, creating potential for further resource growth.
Economic Assessment to Define Project Value
Alongside the drilling programme, Hamak Strategy plans to conduct a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
This study will examine key factors such as:
- Capital expenditure requirements
- Operating costs
- Potential production profiles
- Future cash flows
- Mine life
“The PEA will help us understand exactly how this project can be mined and what the economics will look like,” Smithson said. “Once we have that information, we can build a robust financial model to estimate the asset’s value.”
The company will then compare that valuation against its market capitalisation to assess potential upside for investors.
Low-Cost Acquisition Strengthens Growth Potential
One of the most striking aspects of the Akoko opportunity is the low acquisition cost.
Hamak Strategy has the option to acquire the project for approximately $10 per ounce, equating to around $2.5 million for the existing resource.
“At today’s gold prices, that 250,000 ounces represents over a billion dollars’ worth of gold sitting within the top 50 metres of the ground,” Smithson noted. “It represents a very compelling value opportunity for Hamak Strategy.”
The acquisition fits squarely within the company’s strategy of targeting high-potential assets in well-understood geological regions.
“I’ve worked in this part of West Africa for 20–30 years,” Smithson said. “There are still tremendous opportunities here, particularly with the current strength in the gold price.”
Positioning for Long-Term Value Creation
With drilling planned and economic studies underway, Hamak Strategy aims to transform exploration potential into measurable value.
By combining low-cost project acquisition, strategic positioning on a world-class gold belt, and focused exploration, the company believes it can unlock significant long-term value for shareholders.
As Smithson concluded, the opportunity lies in the disconnect between asset value and current market valuation.
“Our goal is to demonstrate the true value of this asset and highlight the opportunity that exists within Hamak Strategy.”
For more information on Hamak Strategy please visit – https://hamakstrategy.com/
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