Bobby Banson breaks down E&P's Damang Mine takeover

A private legal practitioner and counsel for Engineers and Planners (E&P), Bobby Banson, has debunked claims that the government orchestrated a "political seizure" of the Damang Mine.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, April 11, 2026, he clarified that the transition from GoldFields to the indigenous firm was a purely legal and commercial process triggered by the natural expiration of a mining lease.

The legal expert explained that the narrative circulating in the media, suggesting the state forcibly took the mine to hand it over to a specific individual, is factually flawed.

According to him, Gold Fields had reached the end of its operational plan and was already preparing to decommission the site, an action that would have resulted in massive job losses for the local community.

Banson revealed that while Parliament had granted a one-year extension to allow for a smooth transition, Gold Fields failed to meet the statutory requirements for a further renewal.

He noted that the company’s application was submitted outside the legally mandated window, leaving the state with no choice but to open a new tender for the asset.

“It is not true that the government suddenly decided not to renew the lease for Gold Fields. The narrative being suggested is inaccurate. The fact is that the Gold Fields lease actually expired last year. There was only a one-year extension granted by Parliament to allow for a transition."

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He further argued that the lack of a legal challenge or protest from Gold Fields itself is the clearest evidence that the process was transparent.

He noted that the company understands its legal position and had already moved into a "stockpile" phase, rather than active blasting, as part of its exit strategy.

“You have not even seen a statement from Gold Fields saying they are unhappy, because they understand the legal position,"Banson added.

He emphasised that the entry of E&P is a strategic move to save the mine from total closure and ensure it remains a productive asset for the nation.

Banson disclosed that E&P emerged as the preferred operator because they committed to a ten-year mine extension plan involving a massive $1.2 billion investment.

"Regarding the new lease, I am aware that some of the companies that submitted bids, including Engineers and Planners, had expressed interest to the Ministry as far back as last year.” He explained.

The lawyer assured the public that the change in management would not negatively impact the workforce.

"There is not going to be any job loss; it is simply a lease change to a company that has a plan to extend the mine's lifespan for another ten years. Gold Fields didn't just stop mining; they reached the end of their structured mine plan,"he maintained.

Banson urged Ghanaians to look at the "demonstrable capacity" of the new operators rather than political affiliations.

"From the documents I have seen, the letter for renewal was filed outside that ambit period it was late,"he reiterated, adding that the award followed a competitive process where E&P met all commercial and financial thresholds,” he added.

SO/EB

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