The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has led a high-level government delegation to the Damang Goldfields Mine in the Western Region as part of efforts to manage the mine’s impending lease transition and safeguard jobs.

The visit forms part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of operations when the current mining lease expires later this month.

Speaking during the tour, the Minister explained that the engagement was aimed at familiarising government officials with on-site operations, interacting with workers and contractors, and reassuring staff and surrounding communities that the transition process will not disrupt mining activities.

He disclosed that the government had earlier secured a one-year transitional lease arrangement with Gold Fields Limited to allow continued operations while a competitive and transparent tender process is undertaken to select a substantive operator for the mine.

The delegation included Members of Parliament from the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, officials from the Minerals Commission, directors from the Ministry, and a dedicated transition team working closely with Gold Fields to oversee the process.

Hon. Buah emphasised that the government’s priority is to protect workers’ livelihoods while also promoting greater Ghanaian participation in the mining sector by strengthening local technical and financial capacity.

“We are committed to ensuring that this transition protects jobs, maintains contractor relationships, guarantees safety standards, and ensures uninterrupted production,” he stated.

Officials indicated that phased transition plans have been developed to guide the handover in the coming months. They also pledged continuous engagement with workers and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless change of operator.

During the visit, the Minister and members of the parliamentary committee received a detailed presentation from the transition team before touring sections of the mine to observe operations firsthand.

The delegation also engaged workers and management to better understand their concerns and expectations.

Hon. Buah expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness demonstrated by the transition team and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, efficient, and worker-focused transition process.

Story by Samuel Payitey

[12:28, 4/2/2026] Payitey: Gov’t Assures Jobs, Safety and Production Stability in Damang Mine Transition

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has assured workers and stakeholders of job security and operational stability as the government oversees the transition of the Damang Goldfields Mine.

Leading a high-level delegation to the Western Region mine, the Minister emphasised that protecting livelihoods and ensuring continuity remain at the core of the government’s transition strategy.

“We are committed to ensuring that this transition protects jobs, maintains contractor relationships, guarantees safety standards, and ensures uninterrupted production,” he stated.

The visit comes ahead of the expiration of the current mining lease, with the government already securing a one-year transitional arrangement with Gold Fields Limited to keep operations running while a new substantive operator is selected through a transparent process.

Officials from the Minerals Commission, Members of Parliament on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, and a dedicated transition team were part of the delegation that toured the facility and engaged workers and management.

Hon. Buah noted that beyond job protection, the government is focused on sustaining contractor partnerships and upholding strict safety standards throughout the transition period.

He added that comprehensive plans have been put in place to ensure a phased and seamless handover, preventing any disruption to production or supply chains.

The delegation received a detailed briefing from the transition team and inspected sections of the mine to assess preparedness on the ground.

The Minister expressed confidence in the transition framework and reiterated the government’s commitment to a smooth, transparent, and worker-focused process that safeguards both economic activity and industry standards.