Youth Advocate, Farmer and NPP Communications Team Member, George Opoku Amponsah has in a written petition asked the President, John Mahama to set aside tax exemptions for Ghanaian firms that are involved in the extractive sector.
Among other serious concerns, he argues that since these companies retain their profits in the local economy they should be given preferential treatment through tax exemptions and waivers.
This outfit presents the full details of the petition beneath.
George Opoku Amponsah
Petition:
Tax Incentives for Indigenous Mining Operations.
To: H.E. John Dramani Mahama President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces
Jubilee House, Accra.
Date: April 23, 2026
Subject: PETITION FOR THE GRANTING OF STRATEGIC TAX INCENTIVES TO ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS (E&P) FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY AND EXPANSION OF THE DAMANG MINE OPERATIONS
- The Role of Tax Incentives in National Development:
Tax incentives are not merely “revenue losses” for a state; they are strategic fiscal tools used to stimulate industrial growth and secure long-term economic stability.
By reducing the immediate tax burden on capital-intensive industries like mining, a government fosters an environment where:
Reinvestment is Feasible:
Capital saved from taxes is redirected into modernizing equipment and exploring new ore bodies, extending the “Life of Mine” (LoM).
Job Security is Guaranteed:
Mining supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Incentives prevent premature decommissioning, which would otherwise lead to mass layoffs.
CSR Footprint is Expanded:
When a company’s liquidity is protected, its ability to fund community projects—schools, hospitals, and infrastructure—increases exponentially.
- Precedent: The Case of AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi)
In 2018, the Government of Ghana successfully utilized a Stability Agreement and Tax Concession framework to revive the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.
This intervention was critical in transitioning the mine from “care and maintenance” back to a high-production asset.
The success of the Obuasi intervention serves as a blueprint.
If such concessions can be granted to multinational entities to ensure their continued presence in the Ghanaian landscape, the same logic, if not a more robust version, must be applied to indigenous firms that retain 100% of their profits and operational expertise within our borders.
- Argument for Indigenous Economic Patriotism:
For Ghana to achieve true economic independence, we must be deliberate about the survival of homegrown giants.
Engineers and Planners (E&P);
This wholly Ghanaian outfit represents the pinnacle of Ghanaian indigenous capacity in the extractive sector.
Capital Flight Prevention:
Unlike foreign conglomerates that repatriate dividends, indigenous firms reinvest within the local economy.
Resilience:
Local firms are often more committed to the national interest during global downturns, as their primary stake is the development of their own homeland.
Government must move beyond a “neutral” regulator role and become an active partner in the success of indigenous firms to ensure that the “Ghanaians’ share” of the mineral wealth is managed by Ghanaians.
- Strategic Vision for Damang:
The granting of tax incentives to E&P for the Damang operations is a direct investment in the following transformative projects:
Aviation Infrastructure:
Plans to construct an airport to serve the Western and Western North regions, facilitating trade and tourism.
Transport & Logistics:
The ambitious sponsorship of a concrete-paved road from Damang to Cape Coast, providing a durable link that will outlive the mining operations themselves.
Youth & Sports:
The development of Astroturfs and community centers to foster talent and provide recreational outlets for the youth.
Economic Hub:
These initiatives will elevate Damang from a “mining camp” to a self-sustaining regional economic hub.
- Closing Perspectives
A nation that does not protect its own industrial titans risks becoming a perpetual tenant in its own house.
By granting E&P the necessary tax latitude at Damang, the government is not favoring a private entity; it is securing the livelihoods of thousands of workers, honoring the spirit of the Local Content Law, and ensuring that the infrastructure of the future is built today.
I humbly urge your high office to consider this petition as a matter of urgent national economic interest.
Respectfully Submitted,
(Signature)
George Opoku Amponsah, Youth Advocate, Farmer, and NPP Communications Team Member
CC:
The Hon. Minister, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Accra, The President, Western Regional House of Chiefs, Takoradi.Rt. Hon. Speaker, Parliament House, Accra,The Chairman, Council of State, Accra,All Media Houses, Republic of Ghana.Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi
