NRGI urges Ghana to publish assessment report on Damang lease approval

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has called on Ghana’s government to publicly release the full assessment report justifying the approval of the Damang mine lease to Engineers and Planners Ltd. Patrick Stephenson, NRGI’s country manager, criticized the ministerial approval, which occurred only two hours after the Tender Committee’s recommendation, as lacking transparency and urged greater disclosure to build public trust, according to MyJoyOnline.

The lease was awarded following a competitive tender process valued at $500 million, with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources emphasizing the financial and technical capacity of the winning bidder over political affiliations. Paa Kwesi Schandorf of the ministry highlighted that the decision prioritized operational sustainability and long-term success, dismissing concerns over the ownership connection of Engineers and Planners Ltd to Ibrahim Mahama, brother of former President Mahama.

However, some legislators expressed reservations about the process’s speed and transparency. Akwasi Konadu, Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, pointed out the unusually rapid four-day tender timeline, considering it insufficient for the complexities of the mining sector and raising questions about proper evaluation amid the Easter holiday period. Konadu and the opposition Minority faction stressed that their objections center on ensuring a fair process rather than opposing Ghanaian ownership of natural resources.

Despite government assurances of regulatory compliance and the competitive nature of the tender, the calls for greater transparency persist, with both MPs and civil society urging the publication of detailed assessment documents to clarify the decision-making basis. The Ministry has maintained that due diligence was followed but has yet to make the evaluation reports public.

Going forward, stakeholders will be watching whether the Ghanaian government will respond to demands for openness by releasing the complete evaluation documentation, which could set a precedent for accountability in future mining agreements. The handling of this case is likely to impact public confidence in resource governance and investment transparency in Ghana’s critical mining sector.