Policy analyst Bright Simons has raised fresh concerns over the Damang gold transaction involving Engineers and Planners (E&P) and the Ghana Gold Board, insisting that his position is grounded in the rule of law and not opposition to local participation in Ghana’s mining sector.
His comments follow an exchange in which extractive governance expert Dr Steve Manteaw challenged his concerns over E&P’s sale of gold from the Damang concession to GoldBod before parliamentary ratification of the company’s mining lease.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Simons argued that although E&P’s lease process is ongoing, Ghana’s laws are clear that mining leases only become valid after approval by Parliament.
“He accepts that the law is clear that even if you have a contract, Parliament must ratify it before the contract becomes valid,” Simons stated.
He noted that the constitutional requirement exists because Ghana’s mineral resources belong to the people and not private companies until all legal processes are completed.
“The people’s representatives in Parliament must scrutinise the terms and agree that the lease serves our interests,” he said.
Simons also questioned why E&P had already begun selling gold to GoldBod despite the lease not yet receiving parliamentary approval, arguing that such actions raise concerns over governance and regulatory compliance.
“Without the country having gone through legitimate processes to agree on how they can use our resources, they just start producing gold and pocketing the cash,” he argued.
He further criticised attempts to justify the situation on the basis that other companies may have engaged in similar practices in the past.
“His main argument seems to be that there are many companies that do the same in Ghana. To his mind, this is unpleasant but something we just have to grin and bear?” he questioned.
Simons also rejected claims that he selectively targets local firms while ignoring foreign companies operating within Ghana’s extractive sector.
“At any rate, I am literally the only person who investigated the Consmin issues in the manganese sector,” he said.
He referenced previous investigations into alleged transfer pricing breaches involving Consmin, claiming that Ghana may have lost significant tax revenue from the mining sector over the years without accountability.
“When I complain about elites in Ghana, that is what I mean. To date, no one knows what happened to the Consmin transfer pricing breach affair,” he stated.
Bright Simons wrong on Damang gold sales claims - Dr Manteaw
He further disclosed that he had previously investigated issues surrounding the Royal Ghana Gold Refinery deal, insisting that his concerns consistently focus on transparency and accountability in Ghana’s natural resource sector, regardless of whether local or foreign interests are involved.
“My honest view is that a jurisdiction is either well governed or it is not. The special pleading approach is unworkable,” he stressed.
Simons also criticised what he described as attempts to question his motives instead of addressing the legal and governance issues he raised regarding the Damang transaction.
“My CSO colleague really needs to stay on the issues and stop the motive questioning. It does not befit his stature,” he added.
The controversy surrounding the Damang Mine has intensified after E&P emerged as the company expected to take over operations following the expiry of Gold Fields’ lease, with debates continuing over parliamentary approval, transparency, and local participation in Ghana’s mining industry.
ANAS/MA
My colleague CSO Analyst has a rather strange point of view on E&P selling Ghana's gold back to Ghana and craving our applause for it.
— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) May 26, 2026
1. He says that he accepts that E&P doesn't yet have a contract with Ghana as the lease is going through the technical steps I mentioned in my… pic.twitter.com/HLekkLQdDL
