By: Valentia Tetteh
The Minority in Parliament of Ghana has disclosed plans to petition the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate businessman Ibrahim Mahama and his company, Engineers & Planners, over their involvement in the Damang Mine process and the use of his private jet by President John Dramani Mahama.
Addressing journalists in Parliament on Thursday, March 26, the Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee and Member of Parliament for Mampong, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, said the caucus is concerned about what it describes as potential constitutional breaches and lack of transparency in the selection of an investor for the Damang Mine.
According to the Minority, the process appears to lack fairness and may not have been conducted through a genuinely competitive system.
“The Minority will not accept the government characterisation of this process as competitive. What we see is a winner being arranged and not selected,” he stated.
In a detailed statement, the Minority linked the Damang Mine process to what it describes as a broader conflict-of-interest concern involving the President’s use of a private jet owned by his brother.
The caucus argued that the arrangement raises constitutional questions under Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits public officers from placing themselves in situations where personal interests conflict with official duties.
The statement alleges that the President has used his brother’s private aircraft for official travel on multiple occasions, with costs such as aircraft leasing and operational expenses reportedly absorbed by the owner.
It further claims that such an arrangement constitutes a benefit that could create either actual or perceived conflict of interest, particularly in light of ongoing business interests involving state contracts and mineral concessions.
The Minority also raised specific concerns about the Damang Mine transaction, including the timing and transparency of the tender process, the criteria used for evaluation, and the composition of the tender committee.
According to the caucus, the sequence of events surrounding the mine suggests a lack of clarity and raises doubts about whether due process is being followed.
“These are not separate stories. They are the same story… taken together, they present the most serious conflict-of-interest question,” portions of the statement noted.
The Minority further questioned whether all bidders are being treated fairly and whether appropriate safeguards have been put in place to prevent undue influence in the decision-making process.
The caucus is calling for the immediate publication of all documents relating to the Damang Mine bidding process, including evaluation criteria, list of bidders, and beneficial ownership details.
It is also demanding the recusal of any officials with prior links to any of the bidding entities and a halt to any pre-award activities until a transparent process is completed.
On the issue of the private jet, the Minority is demanding a full disclosure of all official travel arrangements involving the aircraft since January 2025, including the cost implications to the state.
“Under Article 287 (1) of the 1992 Constitution… The Minority is formally considering a joint petition with civil society organisations, professional bodies, and concerned citizens to CHRAJ, ” Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong added.
The Minority emphasised that Ghana’s mineral resources are held in trust for the people and must be managed in a transparent and accountable manner.
The development adds to growing debate over governance, transparency and conflict-of-interest concerns in the management of Ghana’s extractive sector.
