By Muyid Deen Suleman
Kumasi, April 20, GNA — Professor Yarhands Dissou Arthur, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Mathematics Education at the University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (USTED), has applauded Engineers and Planners (E&P) for taking a bold step to acquire the Damang Mines.
He said the decision demonstrated the capacity and capabilities of indigenous Ghanaian companies to take centre stage in large-scale mining operations in the country.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi, Professor Arthur pointed out that Ghanaians taking over large-scale mining operations would not only help the country gain greater control over its mineral resources but would also strengthen local content and create more employment opportunities in the mining sector.
He stressed the need for E&P to strengthen community engagement and prioritise the employment of community members to ensure acceptance by host communities.
The company, he said, must also strengthen its corporate social responsibility (CSR), treating it as a central obligation rather than an afterthought.
According to him, E&P could effectively meet this responsibility by establishing structured skills training and apprenticeship programmes in mining, engineering, and other technical trades—initiatives designed to equip the youth for meaningful participation in the mining sector.
Professor Arthur stressed that such efforts could be enhanced through increased investment in education, including schools, scholarships, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres, as well as improvements to healthcare infrastructure within Damang and its surrounding communities.
He recommended that E&P partner with USTED to drive skills development and entrepreneurial training to strengthen both industry and academia.
Through such collaboration, he noted, USTED could develop competency-based training modules in mining and safety to prepare young people for employment in the mines.
The Dean also advised the management of the firm, as part of its operational approach, to promote transparent and inclusive governance by establishing an effective and functional community engagement framework.
He further urged the firm to publish CSR and local content reports for the Damang area and its surrounding communities to build public trust, enhance accountability, and demonstrate measurable impact.
Professor Arthur additionally encouraged the firm to sustain responsible mining practices to reduce environmental harm, including undertaking land reclamation and reforestation projects to benefit the people of Damang.
He also encouraged E&P to position the takeover as a credible template for indigenous participation in mining, while intensifying efforts to strengthen local content and expand job creation for the prosperity of Ghana.
Professor Arthur called on the firm to combine strong local content policies with visible community impact, transparency, and environmental stewardship to ensure the Damang takeover becomes a flagship success story capable of guiding future local acquisitions.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Audrey Dekalu