Tarkwa (W/R), April 22, – A mining governance expert has cautioned Engineers and Planners (E&P), the new operators of the Damang Mine, to justify public confidence in Ghana’s growing local ownership drive in the extractive sector.
Dr Frank Boateng, Acting Director of the Institute of Mineral Resource Investment and Governance at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, said the acquisition of the mine from Gold Fields Ghana Limited marked a major milestone, but also came with heavy responsibility.
He said the expectation was high and the company must ensure efficient operations, compliance with environmental standards, fair treatment of workers, and timely payment of taxes to the state.
“E&P must do everything a responsible operator would do,” he said, stressing that Ghana could not afford a failed local takeover experiment.
Dr Boateng noted that the development signalled growing local capacity in mining, adding that Ghanaian engineers and entrepreneurs were increasingly active in global mining operations.
He said policy reforms and local content laws had strengthened Ghana’s participation in the sector, but cautioned that ownership alone was not enough without discipline and accountability.
He also called for stronger state systems to ensure the country maximised benefits from its mineral resources.
His comments follow the official takeover of Damang Mine by E&P on April 18, 2026, after meeting the required financial threshold.
The company is expected to maintain production while expanding job opportunities, with projections of about 500 direct employees and up to 1,500 contractors.
CEO of E&P, Mr Ibrahim Mahama, has outlined ambitious development plans, including road and airport projects linked to mining logistics.
GHBUSS
April 22, 2026
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