Engineers and Planners (E&P), the new operators of the Damang Mine, have announced that they are fully prepared to inject billions of dollars into the redevelopment and future operations of the mine following its official handover ceremony.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the company at the ceremony, a representative of E&P said the milestone marked the culmination of nearly three decades of growth, resilience and strategic preparation since the company was established in 1997.
According to the representative, Engineers and Planners had steadily built its expertise through years of mining contracting work, acquiring the technical capacity, skilled workforce and resources necessary to transition from a contractor into a full mine owner and operator.
He described the journey as challenging, noting that it required courage, determination and unwavering leadership from the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama.
“It has not been an easy task. It has taken tenacity, courage, determination and resilience from our leader for us to work through all the challenges we faced to reach this point,” he stated.
The spokesperson also addressed public concerns over whether the wholly Ghanaian-owned company had the financial strength to operate a mine of Damang’s scale.
He disclosed that E&P had already secured substantial financial backing from multiple institutions. “As we stand now, I can tell you that we have multiple billions of dollars ready to be pumped into our vision from all our supporting financing agencies,” he announced.
Touching on community relations, the company assured chiefs, residents and landowners that their interests would remain central to the mine’s operations. The representative said E&P recognised the importance of peaceful coexistence with host communities and pledged to ensure that local people benefit directly from the mine’s activities.
He added that environmental protection would also remain a top priority, stressing that the company would pursue responsible mining practices while sustaining long-term partnerships with surrounding communities. “To Nananon (chiefs), you can be sure that we shall not let you down,” he assured traditional authorities.
The company also paid tribute to outgoing operators, Gold Fields Ghana, for their stewardship of the Damang Mine over the past three decades. Particular commendation was given for maintaining a fatality-free safety record throughout their tenure. “That is a very remarkable achievement, and Engineers and Planners looks forward to continuing that admirable record,” the representative noted.
E&P further commended the Minerals Commission and the government-appointed transition team for their role in facilitating a smooth transfer process within a limited time frame.
He said systems had already been put in place to ensure proper transfer of operational records, technical resources and institutional knowledge from the previous operators to the new management.
The handover of Damang Mine to Engineers and Planners marks a historic moment in Ghana’s mining sector, representing one of the first times a wholly Ghanaian-owned company has assumed full control of a large-scale gold mine. The company concluded by thanking its leadership, board and staff for their foresight, resilience and commitment in bringing the vision
to reality.
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