The youth of Wassa-Damang in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region have dismissed claims that Gold Fields’ Damang Mine has done little to support their communities.
They described assertions made by a group of individuals, who purported to represent the people and youth of Wassa-Damang during an engagement at Parliament, as false and unauthorised.
Mr Ebenezer Takyi, Youth Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, made this known at a press conference in Damang.
“They do not speak for us, nor are they mandated by the youth or the broader community to represent our views on matters concerning the Damang Mine or the development of our area,” he said.
Mr Takyi noted that over the past 25 years, the Damang Mine, operated by Gold Fields, had contributed significantly to the development of host communities in Wassa-Damang.
He said as direct beneficiaries, the youth found it necessary to highlight key projects and interventions undertaken by the company.
These include the construction and rehabilitation of the 33-kilometre Damang–Tarkwa road to improve transportation and access, as well as the extension of electricity to communities such as Nyamebekyere, Kyekyewere, and Subri.
Other initiatives, he said, include the construction of community centres, the provision of 17 pump-fitted boreholes and 13 small-town water systems to improve access to potable water, and apprenticeship training programmes that have benefited 274 young people.
He added that 91 beneficiaries had received heavy-duty mining equipment training, while 79 young professionals had been engaged under graduate trainee programmes.
Mr Takyi further indicated that 805 individuals had benefited from scholarships and bursaries to support their education.
He said the company had also constructed 118 toilet facilities to improve sanitation, four clinics and maternity blocks to enhance healthcare delivery, and supported about 600 cocoa farmers through agricultural assistance programmes.
According to him, these interventions demonstrate the significant role the Damang Mine has played in promoting education, employment, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and sanitation in the area.
“While we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement in community development, it is inaccurate and unfair to suggest that nothing meaningful has been done for the host communities,” he said.
Mr Takyi also addressed claims that the group had appealed to government to hand over full ownership and operational control of the Damang Mine to Dr Ibrahim Mahama and his company, Engineers and Planners (E&P), on behalf of the youth.
He said although the youth recognised and respected the contributions of Dr Mahama to Ghana’s mining and construction industry, such representations were not authorised.
“Should the Government of Ghana decide, in its wisdom, to hand over the Damang Mine to E&P or any other competent entity, the youth of Damang will respect that decision,” he said.
He, however, stressed that any entity that assumes control of the mine must prioritise the development and welfare of host communities.
“For us, community development remains our topmost priority, and we expect the continuation and strengthening of initiatives that have supported our communities over the years,” he added.
Mr Takyi cautioned individuals and groups against using the name of the youth of Wassa-Damang to make unauthorised statements or false publications.
“We are organised, responsible, and capable of speaking for ourselves, when necessary,” he said.
He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to peace, development, and constructive engagement with government, mining companies, and development partners to ensure that the communities continue to benefit from their natural resources.