Abronye Praises Ibrahim Mahama’s Rapid Development of Damang, Says He Has Outdone Newmont in Months

The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Abronye, has made a striking claim about the pace of development in Ghana’s mining communities, declaring that Ibrahim Mahama has achieved more for Damang in just a few months than Newmont did during its 22 years of operations. His remarks, which have generated significant public interest, praise the recent takeover of the Damang gold mine by Ibrahim Mahama and highlight what he describes as a remarkable transformation of the community under the new ownership.

According to Abronye, the development is not limited to Damang alone, as Ibrahim Mahama is also undertaking similar work in Kenyasi in the Ahafo Region and its surrounding communities. He argued that Ghana’s natural resources should be entrusted to indigenous Ghanaians, enabling them to take over and drive mining activities themselves. In his view, local ownership brings a level of commitment to community development that foreign operators have not demonstrated, and the evidence, he claims, is visible in the rapid improvements being witnessed in the areas where Ibrahim Mahama’s operations are active.

Abronye’s praise is particularly notable given his earlier opposition to Ibrahim Mahama’s mining interests. He revealed that he was among those who went to court to challenge the decision to award the Nyinahini mining concession to Engineers and Planners, a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, because they did not want him to mine there. That admission adds a layer of credibility to his current praise, as it suggests his assessment is based on observed results rather than political allegiance or personal friendship.

The Bono Regional Chairman’s change of heart, as reflected in his comments, points to a broader debate about the role of indigenous participation in Ghana’s extractive sector. For years, calls have grown for Ghanaians to take a greater stake in the country’s mineral wealth, with advocates arguing that local ownership ensures that profits and development stay within the country. Abronye’s remarks lend political weight to that argument, even as they raise questions about how development outcomes should be measured and compared across different operators and timeframes.

The praise for Ibrahim Mahama’s development efforts in Damang and Kenyasi will likely intensify conversations about the future of mining in Ghana and the balance between foreign investment and local participation. While Abronye’s claims will be scrutinized by critics and supporters alike, his willingness to acknowledge positive results from a figure he once opposed in court suggests that the debate over Ghana’s mineral resources is evolving. For the communities of Damang and Kenyasi, the hope is that the development being touted translates into lasting benefits for residents.