Damang: The youth of Damang have formally petitioned the government to grant the Damang Mine concession to Engineers and Planners Company Limited (EandP), an indigenous mining firm owned by Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama. In a video circulating online, a leader of the youth argued that the EandP founder is the most capable person to manage and oversee operations at the mine.
According to Ghana Web, the group addressed their petition to the Majority Leader of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, highlighting reasons why Engineers and Planners has the experience and capacity to sustain mining activities and protect jobs in the area. The youth leader emphasized the necessity of handing over the Damang Mine concession to EandP, citing Ibrahim Mahama's capacity, experience, and technical know-how to ensure the mine remains viable and creates jobs for the youth in Damang.
The group also criticized Gold Fields Ghana, the company currently operating the mine through its subsidiary Abosso Goldfields Limited. They claimed that despite operating for over three decades, the communities have not seen significant development. The youth leader noted the lack of substantial developmental projects and highlighted issues such as insufficient toilet facilities and lack of potable drinking water affecting the 5,000 residents of Damang.
The call for a transition comes amid ongoing discussions about the future of the Damang Mine. In 2023, Abosso Goldfields issued a demobilization notice to its contract miner, Engineers and Planners, indicating a shift away from pit mining operations. The notice outlined a revised life-of-mine mining schedule, focusing on processing stockpiles until the end of 2025.
Following the demobilization notice, Engineers and Planners applied for a 'no objection' letter from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in 2024 to explore a potential takeover of the Damang operation. The request was granted, allowing the company to negotiate a possible acquisition. However, the government reserves the right to approve or reject any transaction, ensuring no operational rights are transferred without state approval.
Further correspondence from the ministry in late 2025 clarified the government's expectations for the transition process. The ministry outlined operational guardrails for future arrangements and confirmed that Engineers and Planners would be part of a transition team to ensure a seamless transfer and continuous operation of the mine. Although a final decision on the operation of the Damang Mine has not been made, Engineers and Planners remain a key player in the ongoing discussions.