The recent controversy concerning the Damang Mine that has been taken over
by Engineers and Planners is another evidence of how political bigotry has
clouded our sense of judgement as a people.

Instead of an optimistic outlook of the transactions and its potential impact on national development, we have resorted to pessimistic outlook.

When you look at the infrastructure shaping modern Ghana, Ibrahim Mahama's fingerprints are everywhere. As founder and CEO of Engineers & Planners (E&P), he built one of West Africa’s largest indigenous mining and civil engineering firms from the ground up.

From local company to regional force:

Started in 1997 with a single job, E&P grew into a powerhouse with over 4,000
employees and a fleet of heavy-duty equipment rivaling multinational competitors.

The company moves earth, builds roads, and develops the mines that fuel Ghana's economy. E&P became the first Ghanaian firm to win major contracts at sites like Tarkwa, Damang, and Ahafo, projects previously dominated by foreign contractors. That keeps revenue, skills, and profits circulating in Ghana.

Betting on Ghanaian capacity:

Mahama’s approach is simple: Ghanaian problems should have Ghanaian
solutions. He invested heavily in equipment and training when many said local firms couldn't handle large-scale mining.

Today E&P runs operations in Mali, Liberia, and Burkina Faso too, exporting Ghanaian engineering expertise across the region. During the 2014 power crisis, E&P stepped in to help with emergency energy projects.

Philanthropy and social impact
Beyond business, Mahama is known for quiet but wide-reaching philanthropy.
Through the Joyce Tamakloe Cancer Foundation and direct personal support,
he funds medical care for patients who cannot afford treatment, including
cancer and kidney dialysis cases.

He has covered tuition and living expenses for hundreds of Ghanaian students at home and abroad, often without publicity.

In communities where E&P operates, he supports schools, health clinics, water
systems, and road rehabilitation. During national emergencies like the COVID-
19 pandemic and the Akosombo Dam spillage in 2023, he donated medical supplies, food, and relief items to affected families.

Impact beyond the balance sheet:

E&P’s growth has meant thousands of skilled jobs for Ghanaians, from heavy
equipment operators to engineers. Combined with his philanthropic work,
Mahama ties business success directly to social development. For him, engineering is not just technical. It is national development.

Ibrahim Mahama and Engineers & Planners prove that indigenous African companies can compete at the highest level. By building capacity at home and investing in
people, he is laying the foundation for Ghana’s industrial and human future.

By Awudu Razak Jehoney
Jehoney75@yahoo.com