Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah
Engineers and Planners Company Limited (E&P) have been recommended to take over the Damang Mine previously operated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited.
The recommendation made by the government’s Tender Committee has ignited a defining moment in the country’s mining sector—one that could signal a decisive shift toward indigenous firms taking full control of large-scale mining operations.
The recommendation, which followed a rigorous and competitive evaluation process conducted by the Minerals Commission, positions the Ghanaian-owned company as the leading candidate to assume full operational responsibility for the Damang Gold Mine.
According to the evaluation report, E&P emerged as the highest-ranked bidder with an impressive technical and commercial score of 93.15%, outperforming its competitors in a process widely described as transparent and merit-based.
The tender, conducted under Regulation 258 of the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176), attracted four companies.
Following an initial screening by the Mineral Titles Department, two firms were shortlisted for detailed assessment by the Tender Committee.
After what officials described as a comprehensive evaluation of financial strength, technical capacity, and operational readiness, E&P stood out as the preferred bidder, leading to the recommendation for the grant of the mining lease.
The process forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to ensure efficiency, transparency, and value maximisation in the management of Ghana’s mineral resources.
Gold Fields Endorsement
E&P’s selection did not come as a surprise to industry watchers. Months earlier, Gold Fields had explicitly endorsed the Ghanaian contractor as the most capable entity to sustain operations at Damang.
In a letter dated November 11, 2025, addressed to Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Gold Fields described E&P as highly experienced and deeply familiar with the mine’s operating environment.
The letter, signed by Elliot Twum and copied to Isaac Tandoh and Mike Fraser, outlined a transition roadmap and emphasised that E&P, as the incumbent contractor, possessed the technical depth and institutional knowledge required to ensure seamless continuity.
Gold Fields stressed that regardless of whether the mine was handed to a new owner or taken over by the government, E&P would be central to sustaining operations due to its unmatched familiarity with Damang’s geology, systems, and workforce.
E&P Operational Advantage
E&P’s suitability is underpinned by nearly a decade of hands-on operational experience at Damang, where it has served as the primary mining contractor since 2016.
The company also operates at Tarkwa Mines, another key asset of Gold Fields.
Crucially, E&P owns all the heavy-duty mining equipment deployed at both Damang and Tarkwa, giving it a significant logistical and operational edge.
This ownership eliminates dependency risks and ensures immediate continuity of operations in the event of a transition.
Its embedded presence within the mine’s operational ecosystem—spanning geology, production systems, workforce coordination, and equipment management—places it in a uniquely advantageous position compared to any new entrant.
Industry experts argue that this level of familiarity drastically reduces transition risks, making E&P the most practical and cost-effective choice for full operational control.
E&P’s Journey To Takeover
E&P’s ambition to take over the Damang Mine dates back as far back as 2022, when the company began exploring avenues to acquire the asset or its underlying shareholding structure.
The first major turning point came on September 4, 2023, when Gold Fields issued a notice of demobilisation to E&P, indicating plans to wind down active mining operations at Damang.
The directive revealed that pit mining would end by December 2023, with the company shifting to processing stockpiles until the mine’s projected closure in 2025. Rather than retreat, E&P responded decisively.
Recognising the need for regulatory clearance, E&P engaged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
On March 12, 2024, the Ministry issued a “no objection” letter, confirming it had no reservations about a potential transaction between E&P and Gold Fields, subject to final government approval.
E&P’s potential elevation to full mine operator represents more than a corporate transition; it is a strategic inflection point for Ghana’s mining industry.
Amid concerns over job security, the Minister has assured workers that no layoffs will occur as a result of the transition, disclosing that John Dramani Mahama has directed that employment be safeguarded.
This commitment reinforces government’s broader objective of ensuring that the transition delivers both economic and social value.
The Road Ahead
With the Tender Committee’s recommendation now in place, attention turns to the final decision-making process.
Should E&P be formally awarded the lease, it will face the critical task of translating its operational experience into full-scale mine management under intense scrutiny.
Yet, with a proven track record, deep operational roots, strong regulatory backing, and explicit endorsement from Gold Fields itself, Engineers and Planners appears not only ready—but uniquely qualified—to take on the challenge.
A Daily Guide Report