The founder and Chief Executive Officer of indigenous mining firm Engineers and Planners (E&P), Ibrahim Mahama, has expressed confidence in the company’s ability to successfully manage the Damang Mine following its takeover.
Speaking after the official handover of the mine from Abosso Goldfields Limited to E&P on Saturday, April 18, 2026, Ibrahim Mahama said the company is determined to demonstrate local capacity in large-scale mining operations.
“We want to prove to Ghanaians that we can do it,” he stated.
He added that the vision goes beyond mining operations, stressing the need for local investment and self-reliance.
“If we all put our minds together, this is a success story. What I have planned for Damang is not a joke. I just want to prove that we can invest in ourselves in this country,” he said.
Ibrahim Mahama further pledged significant infrastructure investments aimed at transforming host communities, including the construction of a concrete road linking Damang to Cape Coast within two years.
He also announced plans to develop an airport within six months to improve connectivity between Damang and Accra.
“We have applied for Damang to have an airport, and within six months we should have it, such that we can fly to Accra easily. In the next two years, we should also be able to drive from Damang to Cape Coast on a concrete road,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the commitments were practical and not political promises.
“I beg you, this is not political talk, this is real talk,” he jokingly said.
According to him, the planned investments will not only support mining operations but also enhance economic activity and improve livelihoods in surrounding communities.
The Government of Ghana officially handed over the Damang Mine lease to local mining firm Engineers & Planners Ltd (E&P) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, following the completion of processes to transition control of the mine to the Ghanaian-owned company.
The move is aimed at deepening local ownership of strategic mineral assets and strengthening domestic participation in large-scale mining operations.
The handover followed the government’s confirmation that E&P was the successful bidder for the Damang Mining Lease after a competitive tender process overseen by the Minerals Commission.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources received the Tender Committee’s report on April 7, 2026. The Committee, established under Regulation 261 of the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176), evaluated the bids and recommended E&P.
In its report, the Committee stated that E&P’s bid “satisfied all mandatory requirements set out in the Notice and provided documentary evidence of access to financing, meeting the USD 500 million minimum threshold.”
It added that the company demonstrated relevant experience in the mine’s operations and geology and proposed plans to extend its life beyond ten years.
The Committee further noted, “On the basis of the applicable evaluation criteria and scoring, the tender submitted by Engineers and Planners Ltd attained the highest evaluated score.”
Four companies participated in the tender, namely Vortex Resources Mining Group, Engineers and Planners Ltd, Heath Goldfields Ltd, and Maripoma Mining Services Ltd.
Following evaluation, only E&P and Heath Goldfields met the mandatory requirements, while the other two were disqualified for missing documentation.
Heath Goldfields also failed to meet the minimum qualifying score of 80 percent, and its financial proposal was not considered by the Committee.
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Source: Ghanaweb
