Asanko Gold Ghana Ltd has signed a $400 million, four-year contract with indigenous Ghanaian mining services provider Rabotec Engineering and Construction, in a deal that will see Rabotec undertake the extraction of gold-bearing ore from Asanko’s concessions for processing.
The surface mining firm said the partnership marks a significant step in advancing local content within Ghana’s mining sector.
At the signing ceremony in Accra, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Rabotec, described the agreement as the culmination of years of steady growth and proven performance. The partnership formalises an expanded relationship between the two companies spanning over 11 years.
“Today formalises a partnership built on years of delivery, discipline, and proven capability,” Alhaji Ibrahim said. “Rabotec is an indigenous Ghanaian company established in 2002. We secured our first mining contract with Asanko Gold Ghana in October 2023, marking an important milestone in our growth.”
He traced Rabotec’s evolution from smaller scopes of work since 2013 to its current role handling large-scale open cast mining services, crediting the company’s strong safety record, production performance, and commitment to Ghana’s Local Content policy.
Alhaji Ibrahim noted that Rabotec employs a 100 percent Ghanaian workforce of 950 employees, with 13 percent female representation. Additionally, 41 percent of the workforce is drawn directly from the company’s catchment area. He added that the company has spent over $8 million on local suppliers over the past two years.
“This new partnership provides an opportunity to build on that foundation to expand employment, deepen skills development and increase community impact,” he said.
Alhaji Ibrahim also revealed that the collaboration with Asanko has enabled Rabotec to expand its footprint across West Africa, with operations now including the Kiniero mine in Guinea with Robex Resources, Marampa Iron Ore in Sierra Leone, as well as projects in Mali and Mauritania.
Dr. Charles Amoah, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, described the contract as a significant milestone for both companies and the nation.
“Today is a very special day for both Asanko and Rabotec and the nation Ghana as a whole. It is a dream come true to support the government’s local content policy,” Dr. Amoah said.
He explained that Asanko Gold Ghana operates the Asanko Gold Mine in the Ashanti Region, a large-scale operation focused on safe, responsible, and profitable gold production with a strong emphasis on local participation.
According to Dr. Amoah, the new contract follows Rabotec’s strong performance over the first two years of the existing agreement and is expected to support approximately 3,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs, while further strengthening local participation across the supply chain.
“This is not simply a contract; it reflects a clear business decision that supports Ghana’s Local Content agenda and retains more value within the country,” he said. “Through this partnership with Rabotec, we are advancing that approach by creating employment, strengthening local capability, and building skills that will sustain livelihoods well beyond this contract. Not just participation, but capability; not just jobs, but skills that endure.”
Dr. Amoah praised Rabotec’s long-standing contribution, including its role in labour provision and construction, and expressed confidence in the ability of Ghanaian firms to deliver at the highest industry standards. He reiterated Asanko’s commitment to safety, environmental management, and compliance, while highlighting ongoing investments in host communities through education, agriculture, and local development programmes.
Both leaders expressed gratitude to the Government of Ghana, regulators, and stakeholders for creating an enabling environment for such partnerships.
Attendees at the signing ceremony noted that the contract underscores growing confidence in indigenous Ghanaian companies to handle large-scale mining operations while contributing significantly to job creation, skills development, and economic value retention.
