The Minerals Commission Ghana has dismissed allegations of favoritism in awarding the Damang mining lease to Engineers and Planners Limited, insisting the process was transparent and merit-based.
According to Josef Iroko, Acting Director of Legal Affairs at the Commission, four companies participated in a competitive tender, but Engineers and Planners Limited was the only bidder to meet all technical, financial, and regulatory requirements.
He explained that the evaluation followed strict guidelines outlined under the Minerals and Mining Licensing Regulations 2012, with assessments based on financial capacity, technical expertise, operational plans, and regulatory compliance.
The Commission maintains that the process was conducted impartially and in line with established rules, emphasizing that the final decision reflected a rigorous and unbiased selection process.