The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has given workers at the Damang Gold Mine in the Western Region a direct assurance that no jobs will be lost when Gold Fields formally transfers the mine to the government on April 18.
The minister made the pledge during a working visit to the mine on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, accompanied by members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources. The visit was designed to assess preparations ahead of the handover and to allay growing anxiety among workers facing an uncertain change of ownership.
Buah, who also serves as Member of Parliament (MP) for Elembele, told workers that President John Dramani Mahama had issued explicit directives that the transition must protect existing employment and honour all outstanding contracts. He said no staff would be displaced and that mining operations would continue without interruption.
“This assurance is coming from President John Dramani Mahama. His focus is on the people who work here, those who have families and need to be protected,” the minister stated.
The current mining lease is held by Abosso Goldfields Limited (AGL), a subsidiary of Gold Fields Limited, and expires on April 18, 2026, following a one-year extension the state granted to allow for an orderly handover. Active mining at Damang ceased in 2023, with operations shifting to stockpile processing in 2024.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has initiated a competitive bidding process to select a new investor and operator, with three local firms, Engineers and Planners (E&P) Company Limited, BCM International, and the Vortex Resources consortium, having submitted applications. The government has expressed a clear preference for long-term, Ghanaian-centred ownership.
Buah said the transition also presents an opportunity to reposition the mine for greater efficiency, stronger safety standards, and long-term operational sustainability. Parliament’s involvement in shaping future lease arrangements, he noted, is intended to guarantee continuity and accountability as the mine enters a new chapter.
The Damang Mine directly employs approximately 500 workers, with between 1,000 and 1,500 additional contractor roles tied to mining, services, and energy supply.
