Say It As It Is on Salient National Issues in the Front Burner Part One–Ghana First Agenda

Plan for Takeover of Damang Mine

It is very important for the Citizens to understand some relevant matters on the Takeover of the Abosso Gold Ltd, Damang. So let me start by saying that the Upstream Level in the Mining Industry especially in Gold Mining operations as in the Damang Gold Mine, has three main standalone features.

These are namely (a). A Field Operation of Prospecting and Exploration for gold deposits, (b). A Field Operation of Mining or extraction of the gold ore from the ore deposits by Open Pit or Underground Mining operation and hauling of the ore to a Metallurgical Processing and Refining Plant. (c). Processing of the ore and Refining into gold bars or bullion by the Metallurgical Process and Refining Plant, starting with crushing at a Crusher, milling in a Ball Mill, then to Tanks for Oxidation if Oxidized Ore or Cyanidation if Sulphide Ore otherwise by Bio-oxidation and refining in the Gold Room of the Metallurgical Process and Refining Plant to produce the Gold.

So, Operations at the Abosso Gold Ltd or Damang Gold Mine is at the Upstream Level thus all the three main aspects namely the two Field Operations and the Processing and Refining at the Plant may be done by in-house system otherwise both field operations, may be done through Contract Mining Services, whilst the last one at the Plant by In-house system by the owner of the Gold Mine for his or her final products of gold bars.

So Contract Mining Services is by the first two aspects in the field collectively termed as Mining, whilst the Plant Process of Smelting and Refining is by in-house or is the operation by owner of the Gold Mine. What is for the Takeover at Damang Mine (Abosso Gold Ltd) is both the Mining Lease and the Processing/Refining Plant.

Thus whoever wins the takeover of Abosso Gold Ltd that is both the Mining Lease of Abosso Gold Ltd and the Damang Gold Mine Plant (Process and Refining Plant) may decide to award the Field or Mining Operations to the loser as a Contract Mining Services Provider.

3 Companies, including E&P and BCM International have bided to assume ownership of Abosso Gold Ltd herein as the Damang Gold Mine, hence, becoming the owner of the both Field Operations and the Metallurgical Processing and Refining Plant Operations. E&P is owned by Mr Ibrahim Mahama and BCM International has his Ghanaian sister namely Mrs Angela List, otherwise Ms Angela Atieh, as the owner/CEO/Leader or majority shareholder.

Both Mrs Angela List and Mr Ibrahim Mahama have massive financial muscles and the expertise with readily available foreign source of obtaining credit facilities for financing, and supply of logistics in their current Contract Mining Services Businesses with Abosso Gold Ltd, Damang under the Goldfields Brand. Both of them have the capacity to acquire and operate Abosso Gold Ltd at Damang Goldfields Ghana which is the Company to handover to the winner of the bid ad approved or selected by the Government.

Note that before the bidding process, both E&P and BCM International were restricted to only field Mining Operations at Damang on Contract whilst Goldfields, as the owner, was responsible for the in-house operations at the Processing/Refining Plant of the Abosso Gold Ltd at Damang.

BCM was the first Contract Mining Company at the Damang Mine, through IamGold Ltd of Canada/USA, which was the then co-owner of Abosso Gold Ltd at Damang with Goldfields. E&P joined Abosso Gold Ltd at Damang for Contract Mining later on, through Goldfields Ghana.

Both Mrs Angela List and Mr Ibrahim Mahama are Ghanaian giants or major highly experienced players in African Mining Services. But they hold different strengths based on mining operational focuses and regional footprints.

BCM International, a BCM’s brand but it is now owned and under the able Leadership of Mrs Angela List (Google and read ‘Angela List asserts her rightful owner and Leadership of BCM’) is the one of the longest established contract services firms in West Africa. BCM worked with AGC, Goldfields, Abosso Gold Ltd, Newmont Ahafo etc as at 2004. Also at Konongo Gold Mine termed also as Northern Ashanti Mine.

So, unlike Mr Ibrahim Mahama, Ms Angela List, a female trailblazer in West African mining Services, beside Contract Mining Services through BCM and Nguvu Mining Ltd, may appear to have more experiences in both Contract Mining Services in the Field and the Metallurgical operations at the gold mine Plant.

Mr Ibrahim Mahama, has a very great experiences in field or pit mining operations, hence in earth moving or mining equipment since 2001. He is at Goldfields, Tarkwa, Abosso Gold Ltd, he is site of Cardinal Nabdam in Talensi District, Golden Star Wassa Ltd. etc. Mr Ibrahim Mahama, is a self-made businessman his nemesis (either a fate or doom) maybe his blood relationship to His Excellency JD Mahama, the President of Ghana.

Ms Angela List rose to fame in Mining through her divorced husband, Mr Edward Paul List. So, she has been in the Mining Contract Services since 2001, and she has demo high level track record in Contract Mining Services and in acquiring and owning operating gold mines. Examples are her expertise in the operation of Adamsu Gold Resources or Nzima Gold Mine, Segalan in Mali, Semafo in Niger.

In 2001, when as a Military Officer in 2BN Takoradi, which is the Army Unit which collaborates with the Police for the Internal Security Operations of the Western Region and later on when as a Security Superintendent with Bogoso Gold Mine, I had near contacts with Mr Paul List and Mrs Angela List, and also with Mr Ibrahim Mahama, if my mind memory serves me right, also in 2001. So, as a seasoned security operator, I have dossiers on both these two very distinguished Ghanaians in the Mining Sector.

BCM, started mining as Bayswater Contracting firm with horses etc in 1926, in Australia by an Australian namely Mr Fredrick list. BCM which is 100 years old Company now is of the fourth generation ownership and through inheritance, it was handed over to Mr Paul List in the 1990s.

In the 1990s, BCM or Mr Paul List was invited by MINPROC Ltd, an Australian Civil Engineering Company to Ghana through then Ghana Australian Goldfield (GAG) for Contract Mining Services at the then Ashanti Gold Company (AGC) at Sansu in Obuasi, now AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi. BCM also worked for Goldfields Ghana when Goldfields Ghana acquired the northern Teberebie concession from GAG in 2001 or so..

So, BCM International since 2000, worked at the then AGC Obuasi and AGC Tarkwa at Iduaprim with Goldfields at the enclave of Terberebie in Tarkwa. BCM worked with Damang Gold Mine through the era of Iam Gold Ltd. Thus before Goldfields through an Aggressive takeover in 2010, took full control of Abosso Gold Ltd, Damang. This was so, since Golden Star Resources through Bogoso Mine and others through IamGold Ltd were interested to acquire the Damang Mine. E&P became Contract Service Provider at a later date.

It is envisaged that with the Contract Mining Services at Tarkwa, E&P was introduced into it through an Australian, I guessed one Mr Brown, a staff of MINPROC Ltd, whom, I got close to, when as an interim member of the Western Regional Security Council. Mr Brown was one of my associates at Bogoso Mine through the provision of security cover during the construction of part of the Bogoso Mine/additional residential facilities etc.

2BN Rear Details Takoradi, then under my command in late 2000 and greater part of 2001 contributed to the success story of the operations of Goldfields Tarkwa, this contributed to the awarding of Contract Mining Services to BCM, for Six pits at Atoubo and Teberebie, designated as Zone or Sector 1 and Later on in the same year that E&P was awarded her first Contract Mining Services by Goldfields at Akontansi in the Zone 2.

So, an Australian and say 2BN Takoradi, through Major Bogobiri, then as Officer Commanding (OC), indirectly contributed to the success story of both BCM International of Mrs Angela Lists and E&P of Mr Ibrahim Mahama. No other State Institution nor His Excellency JD Mahama contributed to the success story of Mr Ibrahim Mahama, in the Western Region.

So connecting the success story of E&P or Mr Ibrahim Mahama to an alleged support by His Excellency JD Mahama is not correct and unacceptable for a man, who by God’s work and for his very tenacity and very hard work contributed to the successes of his Businesses. Google and read the story ‘How Mr Ibrahim Mahama from School Drop Out, became a Billionaire’.

Mr Stephen Piedu, then Chief Inspector of Mines or Dr Yerankyi, then Community Affairs Manager of Goldfields, Tarkwa or Mr George Anyema, or Mr Kofi Gamor both then as BNI Officers, or Mr YB Amponsah, then HR Manager at Teberebie Mine, then under GAG, now AngloGold Ashanti Iduaprim, can authenticate my claims or assertions.

Likewise, Hon Mr Boahim Aidoo, former CEO of COCOBOD, who in 2001 was then the Western Regional Minister/Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council, can authenticate my claims or assertions.

Otherwise, you may wish to know the success story of and or how Mr Ibrahim Mahama was helped by an Australian and through the good enabling working environment by 2BN in 2001. So please Google and read his own personal story as ‘How Mr Ibrahim Mahama from School Drop Out, became a Billionaire’.

So, let me say that Mr Ibrahim Mahama and or E&P, never gained support from His Excellency JD Mahama in his operations the Mining Sector as by 31 December 2024. Rather he should be very grateful to God and his Australians associates, including those who worked at Azumah Gold Resources on the Black Volta Gold Project, since it was through an Australian that made Mr Ibrahim Mahama to secure the very juicy contracts with Goldfields, Tarkwa in 2001. It was later on that he had the job at Abosso Gold Ltd Damang, where BCM had earlier on made her foot prints.

So Mr Ibrahim Mahama built his Businesses Empire with no support from the Government of Ghana nor rom his brother His Excellency Mr JD Mahama. Google and read his own personal story as ‘How Mr Ibrahim Mahama from School Drop Out, became a Billionaire’.

. It is very important to state that started BCM with AGC before 2000, with Goldfields Tarkwa at Zone 1 Concession in 2000 and E&P joined later on at Zone 2 Akontansi in 2001. Thus Making BCM International with earlier experiences in Contract Mining in Ghana.

So, it is likely that some of the workforce of E&P might have had experiences with or training from BCM or through BCOM’s Australian associate namely MINPROC Ltd. For historical records, it is important to say that 2BN through this writer contributed to the acquisition of Satellite Goldfields and the Mphor Concessions which led to the establishment of Golden Star Wassa Mine Ltd where, E&P of Mr Ibrahim Mahama worked as Mining Contract Services Providers effective 2010 to gain more experiences in mining.

So let me say that with my experiences in the Mining Sector and research work, Contract Mining Services is more or better profitable than owning a gold mine.as demo by Mr Ibrahim Mahama of E&P , Mr Ofori of Rocksure International and Ms Angela List of BCM.

Furthermore, the assertion that Contract Mining Services may be more or better profitable than owning a Processing and Refining Plant was demo by Mr Ofori Poku from the Ashanti Region with his company as Ofori Poku Company Ltd of Ghana. He started as a Contract Mining Services Provider with the then Chinese Bauxite Company at GBC, Awaso. He has assumed 80 percent owner of the Bauxite Concession and Mine at Awaso under the GBC portfolio,. The Government should give him support under the umbrella of the 24hour Economy.

Hmm, I can recollect that in 2004, whilst with Bogoso Gold Mine, I gathered intelligence that Goldfields Tarkwa found that BCM was making a lot of money than Goldfields from the Contract Mining Services. So, Goldfields in 2004 took over the Mining Services from BCM, as in-house operations.

This may be so, since the owner of an Operating Mine for the processing of the mined gold ore (as mined and hauled to the Crusher or the Plant by the Company for the Contract Mining Services) and refining into gold bars or bullion pays a very a high premium to the Contract Mining Services Company.

This is so due to the very high cost of hiring or hired equipment like dump tracks, excavators, bulldozers, and vehicles for mining even if the material is regarded waste or material with very low value of gold ore. Or if no work done on a day.

In the past a payment of say 200 US Dollars per hour must be made by the owner to the Contractor. For heavy equipment lesser for light vehicle. Example when I was in Bogoso, I used to hire simple light vehicles at not less than 120 US Dollars per day for Soldiers/Police Team patrol duties and sometimes for my Office.

So whether the vehicles was/is used or not the Company had/has to pay. The hirer was responsible for fueling of the car, pay for the driver with the owner responsible for the Servicing and maintenance.

Note that Mining Equipment say Bulldozers in 2001 were hired at not less than 200 dollars per hour and it may be more than 200 US Dollars per hour in later years. You may Google and read ‘’How Mr Ibrahim Mahama from School Dropout became a Billionaire’, this his own narration. So President Mahama has no hands in his wealth, rather an Australian, Goldfields, and Golden Star Resources Ghana (GSRGH) through Mr Dan Owiredu and Col Amadu Disu (rtd) both with GRSGH as well as Cardinal Nabdam at the Talensi are the contributors through acquired Contract Mining Services.

This writer in 2004 as Security Superintendent of Bogoso Gold Mine and through Dr Joyce Aryee, then as CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, with the support of Mr Sulemana Konney, then as a Senior Staff at the Mine Chamber’s Secretariat, caused the establishment of Ghana Chamber of Mine Security Committee. So the author, through networks, knows a lot of issues in the Mining Sector.

Mrs Angela List is a graduate from University of Ghana etc also became billionaire by Ghanaian standard and now as owner of BCM International. So both Mr Ibrahim Mahama and his Ghanaian Sister Ms Angela List are elite players in the Mining Industry with E&P through Ibrahim, has only expertise in heavy earthmoving logistics and contract operations, whilst Ms Angela List has experience in Contract Mining and Metallurgical Processing and Refining Operations.

So, BCM International with Ms Angela List, may be seen as the greater giant in owning and operating a gold mine in the Large Scale Mining Sector than E&P. This is so, since E&P ventured into ownership of a Gold Mine effective 2023 with the Black Volta Gold Project and the plan for acquiring the Damang Gold Mine.

So, one may be right to say that Mr Ibrahim Mahama and E&P as a Company have zero experiences in Metallurgical operation that is both Processing and Refining operation in a Gold Mine or Plant. Currently E&P experiences is restricted to Mining Pit or field operations but Ms Angela List and BCM have experiences in both Mining and Processing and Refining into gold bars.

It is also important to say that as an astute businessman, Mr Ibrahim Mahama can attract the best Process Plant or Gold Metallurgical experts globally, so his weak point in Gold Processing and Refining Operations should not be a problem.

By God and the very high tenacity and very good hard work of Mr Ibrahim Mahama and the media coverage, made Mr Ibrahim Mahama E&P to be seen to be a holder of a stronger or more dominant position in Ghana’s mining sector. So E&P has a greater chance to be given the Damang Mine and its associated Concessions.

Suggestions to Minerals Commission
But if this writer is required to advice the CEO of Minerals Commission (Mr Tandoh) and or the Sector Minister (Hon Mr Buah) hence the Government of Day, under President Mahama, so, for very good reasons, this writer will recommend that the Damang Mine should be given to Ms Angela List, the owner of BCM International, a Ghanaian sister of Mr Ibrahim Mahama. Otherwise Mr Ibrahim Mahama himself, should withdraw, and look for Contract Mining Services from his Ghanaian sister, the reasons are held in my armpit.

It is every important that Ms Angela List, a female Ghanaian Mining Service Contractor, owner of Goldmine hence with some idea on Metallurgical operations, through her BCM International and Nguvu Gold Ltd needs to be supported by the Sector Minister and or the CEO of Minerals Commission hence the Government of Ghana so as to motivate women to emulate her footsteps. Just like the very good work of President JD Mahama for making it possible for Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang to ascend to the Office of VP of Ghana.

Major Mohammed Bogobiri (rtd): mbogobiri@gmail.com

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