- Engineers & Planners Asserts Lawful Ownership of Azumah Mines Amid Workers’ Jubilation
Engineers & Planners (E&P) has moved to firmly establish itself as the new owner of Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and Upwest Resources Ltd, insisting that the acquisitions of the companies, and with them the Black Volta and Sankofa concessions in the Upper West Region, were completed through due legal processes and are a matter of public record.
According to filings at the Registrar-General’s Department, which NorvanReports has sighted shows that E&P is now the sole shareholder of the two firms. The records, updated on 3rd September 2025, show the transfer of 93.4 million shares in Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd and 3 million shares in Upwest Resources Ltd to E&P. These transfers, the company stressed, reflect legitimate agreements with the Ghanaian beneficial owners of the concessions.
E&P’s reaffirmation comes after a statement circulated on Azumah Resources’ letterhead through a London-based PR firm, denying that any transfer of shares had taken place. The release accused E&P of “forcibly seizing” the mine and warned of potential billion-dollar arbitration claims.
But the lawyer for E&P dismissed those claims as false and misleading. In an interview with NorvanReports, Bobby Banson, lawyer for E&P, underlined the legitimacy of the transactions: “The Registrar-General’s filings speak for themselves. Ownership of Azumah and Upwest has lawfully been passed to E&P, and those records carry full legal effect. Statements issued abroad without sign-off from company officers hold no weight under Ghanaian law.”
Mr. Banson also pointed out that Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd was registered with a capital of GH₵26,000, well below Ghana’s US$1 million threshold for foreign-owned companies.
“This shows the company is owned by a Ghanaian; otherwise, such registration would not have been possible,” he said.
He added that E&P has both the technical expertise and the financial resources to develop the concessions, stressing that the Minerals Commission had raised no objections.
In addressing concerns about Azumah’s legacy debts, Mr. Banson confirmed that E&P has assumed responsibility for all valid obligations.
“We have taken over all of Azumah Resources’ assets and liabilities. We expect creditors to provide the necessary documentation so payments can be facilitated,” he explained.
E&P has invited creditors to come forward directly rather than, in the company’s words, “hiding behind PR companies to issue statements.” The firm says it will conduct a full audit in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority to ensure transparency in settling debts.
Meanwhile, NorvanReports can report that the response in the Upper West Region paints a different picture. Workers at the concessions have celebrated the E&P takeover as the first real chance for jobs and progress in more than a decade.
On Monday night, a spontaneous jubilation and party broke out at the mine site. Our sources inform us that a senior member of staff on site, Hector, was crowned “King of Patience” after years of waiting and reassuring staff that there was light at the end of the tunnel and that activity would resume soon. Four senior staff members who welcomed the E&P team were hailed as “the Four Angels who brought the Good News.”
For many in the community, the change of ownership signals the long-delayed unlocking of the concessions’ potential.
E&P has pledged to move quickly to inject funding and resume mining at Black Volta and Sankofa. The company says its goal is not only to repay legitimate debts but also to accelerate development, create jobs, and generate revenue for Ghana’s economy.
Mr. Banson, speaking further to NorvanReports, dismissed speculation of political interference, insisting the acquisition process began long before the current administration: “This transaction started as far back as 2022, long before this government. If we choose to politicise everything, we will always mark time.”
As the filings at the Registrar-General stand uncontested, E&P has projected confidence that Ghanaian regulators and stakeholders will recognise it as the lawful new owner.
What cannot be dismissed is the symbolism of a Ghanaian company ascending from contractor to owner. As E&P succeeds in financing and developing Black Volta and Sankofa, it will reset expectations about the role of indigenous operators in a sector long dominated by foreign capital.
For now, the company is focused on transparency, creditor engagement, and community goodwill, which outweighs the noise of denial. The miners of Wa have already cast their vote, in song, titles, and celebration. The rest of Ghana, and the mining world, will watch closely to see if E&P can turn jubilation into ounces and filings into a producing mine.
