The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr. Isaac Andrew Tandoh, has issued a firm warning to the new operators of the Damang Mine, Engineers and Planners (E&P) Company Limited, declaring that strict compliance with Ghana’s mining laws will be enforced without compromise.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the Damang Mine to E&P on Friday, Mr. Tandoh stressed that the Commission would closely monitor every aspect of the mine’s operations under the new lease arrangement. He did not state the duration of the lease arrangement.
“As the regulator, the Commission will oversee every aspect of operations at Damang under the new lease. We will monitor environmental performance, safety standards, investment commitments and reporting obligations,” he stated.
He added in strong terms: “Where there is compliance, we will support. Where there is breach, we will act. That is our duty to the people of Ghana.”
The handing over ceremony, attended by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, business magnate Ibrahim Mahama, traditional leaders and mine workers marked what many described as a historic transition in Ghana’s mining sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission described the takeover by a Ghanaian-owned company as a significant milestone in the country’s quest for local participation in the extractive industry.
“For decades, we have spoken of local participation and empowering our citizens. Today, we are delivering it not through rhetoric, but through rigorous regulatory process,” he said.
He emphasised that the same laws that governed multinational mining companies would equally apply to local operators, insisting that no special treatment would be granted.
“We are fully prepared to work with the new owners, but only within the regulations and stipulations enshrined in law. Compliance at all levels is not negotiable,” he noted.
In one of the most emphatic moments of his address, Mr. Tandoh assured the Minister and the people of Ghana that the Minerals Commission would remain impartial.
The Minerals Commission CEO also gave assurances to host communities and workers of the mine, promising that environmental protection, worker safety and job security would remain top priorities for the regulator.
“To the workers, your safety and job security are matters of regulatory interest, so be assured, we will not turn a blind eye,” he said.
Mr. Tandoh concluded by reminding all stakeholders that the real success of the handover would depend on what follows after the ceremony.
“This is a historic day, but history is not made by ceremonies alone, it is made by what happens after the cameras leave. Let us go to work.”
