Isaac Tandoh, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission has stated Ghana will run the Damang mine after Gold Fields exit.
According to Tandoh discussions are being held for a state-led operation of the Damang Mine after Gold Fields’ exit.
Speaking on Citi Breakfast Show he stated, “We will run it. The whole of the Damang stretch it is only one expatriate that is running. In Tarkwa, Ghanaians are running them and same as Ahafo. So the issue of human capacity or technical know-how is neither here nor there,” he stated.
“In all the meetings I have been in and all the discussions I have had, we are looking at the state running the mine. No individual will be made to do that,” he added.
Mr Tandoh added, “We support foreign investments, but agreement cannot be in perpetuity. At a point in time, certain things will have to revert to normal. So, those who have an agreement, we will support them to do their work, but when the agreement is over, and you have a better proposition, we will look at it. If not, we will take over the place,”
“People have been talking about capacity and capital and all… there are smaller pits they didn’t complete in mining them out, we can commence mining. We have a lot of local capacity rock shove, BCMs, engineers and planners; all these guys are in there that we can use to start the mining. Then we can get to the drawing board and strategise the big capital which they have been differing since 2018, to see how we can come back,” he stated.
Isaac Tandoh further revealed, Gold Fields Limited failed to comply with the minister’s directive to engage the Commission regarding the extension of its Damang Mining Lease.
Tandoh added, “When we met the minister, he said that we cannot continue this as business as usual, we need to get value for money. So, if you have any better proposition for Ghanaians, go and sit with the Minerals Commission, but that has not happened. Instead they were writing letters to the minister here and there. It was a clear instruction”
“We asked them to go and see the Minerals Commission if they had a better proposition for Ghana but they have not done that. Instead, they were writing letters and, I’m sure it will come up and you will see the tone they used,” he added.
Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have reacted to the news Gold Field exit by questioning the person who signed the lease contract from 1995 to 202 saying, “ First of all, who’s the F00l who signed this contract in the first place??”
Another stated, “ From 1995 to 2025 which is 30 good years. Let’s ask ourselves what one prominent thing or remarkable object have they done for the Nation within these periods.
Not University, Hospital, Railways, Roads, Ultra modern Market nothing and U need another 30 years to exploit. Never”.
One user also stated, “10% interest? Well, well, well!… Good the Minerals Commission turned them down”.
Additionally, an X user also wrote, “Trust me even if Ghana owns 100% of the mine Ghanaian citizens will still not benefit anything from it, all the money will end up in our politician’s pockets”.
