Ibrahim Mahama paid the first $2 million of a $5 million pledge to support Ghana’s World Cup preparations on April 30, 2026. The payment was presented to Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem. The funds are intended for training, logistics, infrastructure, and international engagements for the World Cup.
Key financial contributions:
- Gold Fields Ghana pledged $2 million, with an additional $1 million expected.
- KGL Group committed GH₵10 million, half of which has already been paid.
- Alex Okyere donated GH₵240,000.
- Timeline and Innovation Company contributed GH₵300,000.
The fundraising effort has generated more than $12 million toward a $30 million target for World Cup preparations. This coalition includes support from the private sector and the entertainment industry. Notable figures like Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy have also expressed their backing.
Ibrahim Mahama founded Engineers and Planners in 1997, which has over 4,000 employees. Recently, the Damang Gold Mine delivered its first 110 kilograms of gold to GoldBod for the Bank of Ghana. This delivery is valued at approximately $11.8 million. The transaction is seen as a landmark effort to deepen the country’s foreign reserves.
The Damang mine was transferred to Engineers and Planners on April 18, 2026. The government granted a one-year extension for the mine lease before declining to renew it in favor of Gold Fields. Ibrahim Mahama is also known as the younger brother of former President John Dramani Mahama.
Thomas Nyarko Ampem commented on the pledge: “I’m happy to say that today, they are here to redeem part of the pledge of $2 million.” Ibrahim Mahama expressed his desire to demonstrate local investment by stating, “I just want to prove that we can invest in ourselves in this country.” Sammy Gyamfi noted that selling every ounce of initial production to the Ghanaian state rather than an international buyer sends a clear signal about local ownership in mining.
