Former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has raised concerns over the tender process used in awarding the Damang mine, questioning the short timeline given for bids.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Duker criticised what he described as a rushed process, noting that the tender was reportedly opened within just four days.
He argued that such a timeframe is inadequate for a thorough and competitive bidding process.
According to him, standard practice requires sufficient time—often at least a month—for companies to assess requirements and submit competitive bids, including detailed evaluations of financial and technical capacity.
“There are many questions surrounding the E&P Damang mine deal. Before transferring a mining operation to another company, it is essential to assess their history, benefits, and other relevant factors. If you plan to issue a tender, it should be done at least a month in advance of the opening. Why would you open a tender and then only allow four days for financial capacity checks? What’s the rush? This has never happened before,” he stated.
Mr. Duker also questioned the mode of advertisement, suggesting that limiting the announcement to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources website may have restricted wider participation within the mining industry.
He maintained that several qualified mining firms could have expressed interest if given adequate time and proper notice, adding that the situation raises concerns over transparency and due process.
“There are other mining companies in the country that could also bid for this mine. While they claimed to have advertised on the Ministry’s website, is that website even up to date? How many people in the industry actually visit that site? Opening a tender there seems questionable. I have not seen a company that opens a tender within just seven days,” he added.
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