Engineers & Planners acquires Black Volta and Sankofa Gold projects in landmark deal 

Engineers & Planners Company Ltd (E&P) has taken full ownership of Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and Upwest Resources Ltd, securing control of the Black Volta and Sankofa gold concessions after a successful share transfer agreement with the Ghanaian Beneficial Owner.

The transfers, approved by the Minerals Commission and registered with the Registrar of Companies, place the long-stalled projects under Ghanaian management for the first time in decades.

“This acquisition marks a landmark achievement for E&P and for Ghana’s mining industry. After decades of inactivity, these projects now stand at the threshold of full-scale development under Ghanaian leadership,” the company said in a statement signed by Emmanuel Erskine, Director of Business Development.

Founded in 1997, E&P is today one of Africa’s leading mining and civil engineering companies. The firm says it has already secured the financing needed to launch development and has laid out a structured plan that includes working with the Ghana Revenue Authority to audit and validate all past loans classified as project investments, repaying verified loans subject to applicable taxes to safeguard state revenue, and deploying secured funding to commence mine construction and operations as quickly as possible.

The company stressed that its approach is not only commercial but also patriotic. “The Black Volta and Sankofa Projects have remained undeveloped since 1992. By taking them forward, E&P aims to generate jobs, stimulate local economic activity, and contribute royalties and taxes to the state,” the statement added.

Communities in the Upper West Region are also expected to benefit from new infrastructure and social investments tied to the projects.

E&P’s Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Mahama, underscored the significance of the milestone. “This is a proud moment for E&P and for Ghana. 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. We will work transparently with regulators and stakeholders to build mines that create shared prosperity,” he said.

The move comes after years of negotiations and legal processes that had delayed development. Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and Upwest Resources Ltd, the former owners, confirmed the completion of the transfer in a joint statement. They said the transaction had been duly registered at the Registrar of Companies, marking a decisive step in ensuring the long-term development of the assets and paving the way for a new phase of project development led by a Ghanaian operator with proven technical and financial capacity.

Although the concessions were granted in 2014, challenges in raising capital meant they remained idle. With E&P now in charge, industry analysts say Ghana’s mining sector could see a new model of homegrown leadership, proving that Ghanaian companies can deliver large-scale projects that meet global standards while maximising national benefit.