The Minerals Commission has firmly rejected claims of favouritism in awarding the Damang Mining Lease to Engineers and Planners Limited (E&P), insisting that the process was transparent, competitive, and fully compliant with Ghana’s mining regulations.
The controversy surrounding the lease sparked public debate, with some stakeholders questioning whether the selection process was impartial. However, the Commission maintains that due process was followed at every stage, and that the award was based solely on merit and adherence to established guidelines.
According to Josef Iroko, Acting Director of Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, four companies submitted bids under a competitive tender process open to qualified entities. After thorough technical, financial, and regulatory evaluation, E&P was the only bidder that met all the requirements outlined in the tender documentation.
Iroko explained that the evaluation process involved a detailed assessment of each submission against clearly defined benchmarks, including financial capability, technical expertise, operational plans, and compliance with Ghanaian mining law. The Commission emphasized that this rigorous screening ensured only the most qualified applicants could be considered for the lease.
Addressing concerns in an interview with Citi News on April 7, Mr. Iroko stressed that the evaluation committee acted impartially and without bias. “The committee went into this work without regard to anybody’s last name, that is the first thing I want to raise. Then secondly, the committee was guided by the Tender Notice Guidelines published by the minister as per regulation 258 of the Minerals and Mining Licensing Regulation 2012, L.I 217,” he said.
He added, “So the process has been outlined in the regulations. So the minister published the notice and then told the whole world as to the criteria that any bidder must meet.”
