Engineers & Planners take over operations at Damang Mine

The Damang Gold Mine in Ghana’s Western Region has officially come under new ownership, with Engineers and Planners Limited taking over the concession from Gold Fields Ghana Limited following a government-led tender process.

The symbolic handover was performed on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the mine site by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, marking the end of Gold Fields’ more than two decades of operations at the site.

The transition follows the expiration of Gold Fields’ lease in April 2025, which was extended by one year to allow for an orderly transfer. The government subsequently opted not to renew the lease, instead opening a competitive bidding process to encourage local participation in the mining sector.

Engineers and Planners emerged successful from four bidders after meeting technical, financial, and regulatory requirements set under the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176). The company was also required to demonstrate access to significant funding capacity and operational readiness.

Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, Ibrahim Mahama, described the takeover as a significant milestone for local enterprise in Ghana’s mining industry. He pledged major infrastructure and development investments around the concession area, including road and airport projects intended to boost economic activity.

Government officials say the transition is part of broader efforts to strengthen local ownership in the extractive sector while ensuring continuity of operations and safeguarding jobs at the mine.

The Damang Mine remains one of Ghana’s key gold-producing assets, and its transfer to a local operator marks a notable shift in the country’s mining ownership structure.