Private legal practitioner and lecturer at the Ghana School of Law, Bobby Banson, has dismissed suggestions that Engineers & Planners’ (E&P) takeover of Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and Upwest Resources Ghana Ltd was facilitated by political influence.

In an interview on JoyNews’s Newsfile programme on Saturday, September 13, Mr Banson, who is also part of the legal team of E&P, argued that such claims trivialise the rigorous process that led to the transaction.

“It is unfair to say this deal is happening because of political connections,” he said.

“It undermines the efforts of all the parties who have worked diligently since 2022 to bring this transaction to fruition.”

He emphasised that the deal was the outcome of years of negotiations, regulatory compliance, and legal processes that followed the proper statutory framework.

The acquisition, which transfers full equity of the Ghanaian beneficial owner to E&P, marks a major shift in Ghana’s mining sector.

Mr Banson stressed that rather than focusing on politics, the conversation should highlight the potential benefits of the deal for Ghana’s economy and mining communities.

“What we must appreciate is that this is a Ghanaian company stepping in to do what foreign investors could not achieve for nearly two decades,” he said.

He further noted that, with global gold prices now surpassing $3,000 per ounce, E&P was well-positioned to mobilise funding and technical expertise to fast-track mine development.

“This is a significant opportunity for the country to finally benefit from concessions that have long been dormant,” he added.

“The focus should be on the prospects of jobs, revenue, and community development, not unfounded claims of political advantage.”