Ibrahim Mahama Recieves Praises From Top NPP Guru

Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, has praised businessman Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers & Planners (E&P), citing its contribution to development in communities affected by mining activities.

Abronye expressed the view that E&P’s work at Damang has delivered greater developmental benefits than those associated with some foreign-owned mining companies operating in Ghana.

He drew a comparison with Newmont’s operations in the Ahafo Region, arguing that the development attributed to E&P at Damang exceeds what the international mining company has provided to its host communities over approximately 20 years.

His comments have brought renewed attention to the debate over local participation in Ghana’s mining industry and the benefits communities receive from the extraction of the country’s mineral resources.

Abronye believes that providing more opportunities for competent Ghanaian businesses to participate in mining could strengthen the domestic economy through job creation, increased investment, infrastructure development and greater retention of mineral wealth.

He maintains that empowering indigenous entrepreneurs to take a more prominent role in the sector could help ensure that the benefits of mining extend beyond commercial operations to improve the welfare of local residents.

The endorsement is particularly notable given Abronye’s previous criticism of a business arrangement involving Ibrahim Mahama’s interests in the Ashanti Region.

In 2017, a mining concession at Nyinahin involving Exton Cubic Group Limited and Engineers & Planners became embroiled in political and legal controversy. Abronye was among the individuals who publicly challenged the arrangement.

His latest remarks indicate a change in his public assessment of Ibrahim Mahama’s potential contribution to the country’s mining industry.

The development has also attracted political interest because Ibrahim Mahama is the brother of President John Dramani Mahama, while Abronye remains an influential figure within the opposition NPP.

His position raises the question of whether the performance of businesses in Ghana should be judged primarily by their contribution to economic growth and community welfare rather than the political connections of their owners.

Abronye’s comments have further highlighted concerns about the social responsibilities of multinational mining companies and the need to ensure that communities hosting mining operations receive meaningful and lasting benefits.

Nevertheless, his comparison of E&P’s performance with that of Newmont represents his own assessment. The claims regarding the relative developmental impact of the two companies have not been independently verified.

The discussion underscores the importance of expanding opportunities for Ghanaian-owned enterprises in the mining sector while ensuring that resource extraction contributes to employment, local infrastructure and sustainable economic development.

Ultimately, the issue centres on how Ghana can maximise the benefits of its mineral resources and ensure that a greater proportion of the wealth generated supports its citizens and mining communities.

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