By: Ashiadey Dotse
A private legal practitioner, Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, has called on government to publish the full report on the Damang Mine lease to ensure transparency and settle growing public doubt over the process.
Speaking in an interview on GTV’s ‘Current Agenda’ programme on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Mr Brako-Powers stressed that making the full report public is the only way to restore confidence in the award of the lease to Engineers and Planners.
He explained that the controversy surrounding the Damang Mine deal should not focus on the company that won the contract, but rather on whether the right procedures were followed.
According to him, Ghana’s laws, including provisions on public procurement and conflict of interest, clearly discourage even the perception of wrongdoing in such high-profile transactions.
Mr Brako-Powers noted that concerns have been raised because some individuals involved in the decision-making process are government appointees, while the winning company is linked to the sitting president.
He said although no wrongdoing has been proven, the situation creates a perception of possible conflict of interest, which must be addressed transparently.
“The perception alone is enough to raise questions, and that is why government must act to clear all doubts,” he stated.
He therefore proposed that an independent audit committee be set up to review the entire process undertaken by the tender committee.
Mr Brako-Powers added that beyond the audit, the government must go further to publish the full report on the lease agreement, rather than releasing only portions of it.
He emphasised that full disclosure would help assure the public that the process was fair, transparent, and free from undue influence.
The legal practitioner maintained that transparency remains key in protecting public trust, especially in matters involving national resources like the Damang Mine.
