Patrick Stevenson, the Country Manager for the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to publish the full technical and financial evaluation reports following the selection of Engineers and Planners (E&P) as the new operators of the Damang Gold Mine.
In an interview The Vaultz News, Mr. Patrick Stevenson noted that while the transition to a competitive bidding process is a “welcome news” and aligns with industry best practices, the ultimate proof of integrity lies in total transparency.
He emphasized that making the scores and assessment criteria public is the only way to dispel lingering suspicions of political favoritism and ensure that the selection was based purely on merit.
“But if we publish the full details of the report of the assessment, then people can rest, you know, assuring that nothing untoward, you know, happened. We need to see the technical evaluation scores and the financials that were submitted to justify the assets behind them. I don’t think it’s anything difficult to do in a democratic dispensation.”
Patrick Stevenson
The demand for transparency follows the recent announcement by the Sector Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, confirming that E&P owned by Ibrahim Mahama emerged as the successful bidder for the strategic asset after a competitive tender.
The process, which saw four companies submit bids by the March 31, 2026 deadline, culminated in E&P securing a combined technical and financial score of 93.15 percent.
Despite these impressive figures, including a confirmed USD 505 million funding package from ABSA and Stanbic Bank, the Minority in Parliament has raised concerns regarding the owner’s political ties.
Patrick Stevenson argues that publishing the Tender Committee’s report would clear the fears of the minority and provide “prima facie evidence” that all legal and technical requirements were duly complied with, preventing a repeat of the legal reversals seen in the 2015 bauxite licensing saga.
The Damang Takeover: Merit or Monarchy?
Speculation surrounding the Damang Mine has intensified as the April 18, 2026, transition date approaches.
The mine, formerly operated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited, has been a flashpoint for debate regarding “state capture” and the influence of politically exposed persons (PEPs) in the extractive sector.
While E&P has long-standing operational experience at the site as a contractor, the transition to full ownership has been dogged by claims that the process was “tailor-made” for the President’s brother.
However, industry data suggests that E&P’s bid was robust, promising to extend the mine’s lifespan beyond ten years.
To reconcile these two realities, Patrick Stevenson insists that the government must move beyond mere announcements and “publish the full scope of the reports so that different actors can see that the process was truly open.”
Lessons from the 2015 Bauxite License Reversal
The push for a public report is deeply rooted in Ghana’s history of contested mineral rights. Stevenson pointedly referenced the 2015-2016 period when bauxite exploration licenses awarded to the same entity were later invalidated by the Supreme Court due to non-compliance with Article 268 of the Constitution.
“At some point, somebody came and reversed that simply because due processes were not completely complied with,” Stevenson remarked. By making the Damang tender results public, the government can provide a “bulletproof” defense against future legal challenges.
This level of disclosure would demonstrate that the $500 million threshold and the 80 percent technical cut-off were applied equitably to all bidders, including the disqualified Maripoma Mining and Vortex Resources.
Ensuring Governance in the Green Transition
As Ghana positions itself for a “green transition” and better resource management, the Damang deal serves as a litmus test for the Minerals Commission’s oversight.
Patrick Stevenson noted that even though E&P is a “separate legal entity in law,” the governance questions surrounding its leadership remain valid.
The NRGI manager believes that for the public to trust that the “decisions of the committee reflect their interests,” the government must provide a granular breakdown of the technical scores.
In a sector where “risks of corruption are difficult to pinpoint” because they occur along a complex value chain, the publication of the assessment report remains the only credible tool for “proper management of our resources” and the protection of the national interest.
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