Engineers & Planners Takes Over Black Volta and Sankofa Gold Projects

The long-stalled Black Volta and Sankofa gold projects in Ghana’s Upper West Region are set for revival after Engineers & Planners (E&P), one of West Africa’s largest indigenous mining contractors, secured full ownership of Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and Upwest Resources Ghana Ltd.

The transaction, completed with the Registrar of Companies and the Minerals Commission, transfers all issued shares of the Ghanaian beneficial owner to E&P, marking a major shift in the country’s mining landscape.

For nearly two decades, the concessions promised much but delivered little. Legal disputes, shifting investor priorities, and lack of capital stalled development—frustrating host communities and depriving Ghana of potential revenue.

Now, with gold prices above $3,000 per ounce, E&P says it is ready to mobilise financing and technical expertise to fast-track mine development.

“This is a proud moment for E&P and for Ghana,” said Ibrahim Mahama, CEO of Engineers & Planners. “Our commitment is to ensure that these projects, which have been dormant for too long, finally deliver real value to our country and its people.”

E&P has outlined a three-pronged strategy: auditing and verifying all historical loans with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), repaying genuine debts, and deploying secured funding to launch mine construction.

An executive of the company stressed: “We will honour all genuine obligations, but they must be properly accounted for and taxed.”

The acquisition is more than a corporate deal—it represents a reassertion of Ghanaian ownership in a sector long dominated by foreign multinationals. For years, the concessions were controlled by offshore entities unable or unwilling to mobilise the required capital. Now, a local company with proven mining expertise has assumed responsibility.

Founded in 1997, Engineers & Planners has earned a reputation in mining and civil engineering across West Africa, working with global majors on large-scale projects. This acquisition, however, marks its boldest move into direct resource ownership, a development closely watched by industry observers.

If successful, E&P’s entry could strengthen calls for greater localisation of mining assets, challenging the status quo where foreign companies dominate and Ghana relies mainly on royalties and carried interests. Failure, however, could reinforce doubts about whether indigenous firms can mobilise the capital and technical know-how needed for world-class operations.

In Wa and surrounding communities, the announcement has stirred cautious optimism. After years of delays, hopes are high for jobs, infrastructure, and investment. Civil society groups, however, are urging transparency, environmental safeguards, and equitable benefit-sharing.

“We have seen too many projects where the local people remain poor while billions are extracted from beneath their feet,” one activist cautioned.

For government, the deal offers both political and economic relief. It supports its narrative of economic recovery and job creation, while potentially boosting revenue under IMF fiscal consolidation targets.

Ultimately, the Azumah-Upwest-E&P transaction will serve as a litmus test. Success would mark a turning point in Ghana’s mining story, proving indigenous ownership can thrive. Failure would entrench dependence on foreign capital and control.

For now, optimism holds. A once-stalled project has new life, and a Ghanaian company stands poised to turn long-held promises into production.