The Council of Imams in the Ashanti region is backing businessman Ibrahim Mahama to successfully develop the Damang Mine in the Western region into a world-class facility.

The Council says Engineers and Planners Limited, an indigenous Ghanaian firm owned by Mr Mahama, has the technical and financial capacity to run and develop the mine; hence, its decision to back the government in transferring the mine to local hands.

Members of the Council held a special prayer session on behalf of Engineers and Planners for successfully winning the competitive bid to operate the mine and also heralding the successful operations of the mining firm at Damang.

The Damang Gold Mine transitioned from Gold Fields Ghana Limited to E&P following a competitive bidding process supervised by the government, making it fully Ghanaian-owned.

It followed the expiration of the previous lease agreement. Some Ghanaians, including the opposition New Patriotic Party, have raised concerns over the deal, describing it as nepotism since it involved the brother of President Mahama.

But the Council of Imams in the Ashanti region has jumped to the defence of the Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, Ibrahim Mahama.

“If he’s been there and now the leadership has come upon him, I don’t see… if it were to be a CPP President, he’d ask him to go in, not necessarily the NDC. No, he has qualified—I mean, he qualified to lead that position. Therefore, we have to… this is why we are backing the effort. Not on political issues, 'no'. We are backing the effort because he qualifies, and he's a businessman, and we feel he can sail well.” Ustaz Ahmed Seidu, the Executive Secretary of the Council of Ulamas, told journalists at the Kumasi Central Mosque.

The Council insists Mr. Mahama has, over the years, exhibited himself as a successful businessman with a proven track record of more than 20 years of mining experience, making him the first Ghanaian to own such a business interest.

Ustaz Ahmed Seidu, who is also the executive secretary, speaks for the Council of Ulamas in the Ashanti region.

“Yes, the Ulama backs this effort simply because Ibrahim Mahama is not a politician, as far as we are aware. You get me? He’s not a politician. He’s a businessman, and this is just a business entity, and he's been there for quite a long time—for over two decades, as we are told,” he said.

Led by the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Zakaria, who also doubles as its President, the Council performed special prayers and recitations from the Holy Quran to seek guidance and success for Mr. Mahama on Friday, April 24, 2026.

The Council, as part of the prayers, slaughtered a cow to offer as a sacrifice for good fortune.

“We sent the Holy Quran directly to Allah Almighty, seeking His blessings, His guidance, I mean, for Ibrahim Mahama. And we prayed to Allah that he sails confidently through this daunting issue. It’s not an easy task, as we all know, but we pray to Allah for him to sail well. This is why we are here today, as far as we are concerned,” Ustaz Seidu said.

The Council also urged workers at Damang Gold Mine Limited to maintain the same dedication they showed before the leadership transition, as it calls for support for Ibrahim Mahama.

The Ulamas want the workers to reciprocate the good gesture with hard work and dedication, as Mr. Ibrahim Mahama promised not to lay any worker off.

“Once they give him the necessary support, there's no need for him to sack anybody. I think he is somebody who is good; I mean, to see how best they can work with him because once they work with him well, he'll also be good with them. I don’t see that he may sack this or that. No, they've been together even before he became the CEO. So definitely he knows them, and they know him. Therefore, they are going to collaborate and work together. This is how we perceive it, and we are praying for them all, I mean, to succeed in this endeavour.”

The special prayers were upon the request of Alhaji Yakubu Tony Aidoo, a businessman.