Damang: Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners and business mogul, Ibrahim Mahama, has expressed appreciation to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his support in enabling the company's acquisition of the Damang Mine concession.
According to Ghana Web, Mahama spoke at the official takeover ceremony on April 18, 2026, recounting the lengthy process that led to the transition of the mine from Gold Fields Ghana Limited to Engineers and Planners. He highlighted that this transition followed years of discussions involving multiple stakeholders, including the government. The process began in 2022 when Gold Fields announced plans to gradually end its operations, paving the way for negotiations on an orderly handover of the asset.
Mahama emphasized that government involvement was crucial in progressing these talks, with former President Akufo-Addo playing a key role in supporting the engagement process. Mahama stated, "I must thank our former President Nana Akufo-Addo. He gave me a document to sit with Gold Fields and negotiate and keep the mine [Damang] going."
Further indicating the state's role in facilitating discussions, Mahama noted that the agreement to transfer the concession was achieved through the necessary regulatory and licensing channels. He stressed that the deal was not merely a business transaction but also aligned with efforts to enhance local capacity in large-scale mining operations in Ghana.
Mahama elaborated, "I engaged the government and told them that mining is not just buying equipment and working in there. It is the key people that you need to put together." He also revealed that Engineers and Planners conducted comprehensive technical and financial evaluations before securing the concession. This included a bankable feasibility study and securing funding commitments from both international and local financial institutions, with commitments of $650 million and $600 million from different banks.