Gov’t endorses lease of Damang Mine to Engineers and Planners

The Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah says the government has approved Engineers and Planners as the successful bidder for the Damang Mining Lease.

In a press release dated April 7, 2026, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources confirmed it had received and reviewed the Tender Committee’s report under the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176), leading to the decision.

The statement noted that Engineers and Planners Ltd (E&P) emerged as the top-ranked bidder after a competitive process, with the committee indicating that the company “satisfied all mandatory requirements set out in the Notice and provided documentary evidence of access to financing.”

It added that E&P met the minimum financial threshold, as “the Company possesses experience and knowledge relevant to the operations, infrastructure, and geology of the Damang Mine.”

According to the report, E&P also presented a strong development plan, including “measures intended to extend the life of mine beyond ten (10) years,” a factor that contributed significantly to its selection.

The committee concluded that “on the basis of the applicable evaluation criteria and scoring, the tender submitted by Engineers and Planners Ltd attained the highest evaluated score,” stressing that the firm demonstrated “the highest capability to operate the Damang mine.”

A total of four companies submitted bids before the March 31 deadline: Vortex Resources Mining Group, Engineers and Planners Ltd, Heath Goldfields Ltd, and Maripoma Mining Services Ltd.

However, only E&P and Heath Goldfields Ltd met the strict mandatory requirements, which included valid tax clearance, SSNIT clearance, VAT certification, and proof of Ghanaian ownership.

The other two firms were disqualified for failing to submit the required documentation.

Following the technical evaluation, Heath Goldfields Ltd failed to meet the minimum qualifying score of 80 percent, leading to the exclusion of its financial proposal.

The Ministry commended the Minerals Commission and the Tender Committee for their work, describing the process as rigorous and transparent.

Engineers and Planners is a wholly Ghanaian-owned company founded by businessman Ibrahim Mahama.

The Ministry has directed the Minerals Commission to proceed with all regulatory steps necessary to formalise the lease approval.