Omanghana
The Apinto Divisional Council in Ghana’s Western Region has petitioned the government to reject the renewal of Gold Fields Ghana’s lease for the Tarkwa Gold Mine and transfer the concession to a wholly Ghanaian-owned company.
The current lease is expected to expire in April 2027. The traditional authorities argue that placing the mine under local ownership would allow Ghana and surrounding communities to receive greater benefits from the country’s mineral resources.
Led by the Gyasehene of the Apinto Traditional Area, Nana Adarkwa Bediako III, the chiefs cited environmental degradation, youth unemployment and persistent infrastructure challenges as their main reasons for opposing the renewal.
According to the council, approximately 4,000 hectares of ancestral land have been degraded by decades of mining. The chiefs said the extent of the damage became clearer during a recent tour of the concession.
They also expressed concern that communities within the traditional area continue to struggle with poor roads, inadequate educational facilities and limited employment opportunities despite 34 years of large-scale mining operations by Gold Fields.
The council believes that handing the concession to a Ghanaian-owned mining company would help retain more revenue in the country, increase local participation and improve accountability to affected communities.
As part of that effort, the chiefs have reportedly contacted Ibrahim Mahama, chief executive officer of the Ghanaian engineering and mining services company Engineers & Planners, encouraging him to submit a bid to take over the Tarkwa operation.
Gold Fields Ghana has rejected the council’s characterization of its operations, arguing that the criticism does not accurately reflect its relationship with the traditional authorities or its economic contribution to Ghana.
The company said approximately 74 cents of every dollar generated by the Tarkwa mine remains in Ghana through taxes, royalties, dividends, wages, contracts and other domestic expenditures.
Gold Fields further reported that it paid GH¢5.8 billion in taxes, royalties and dividends in 2025. It also cited more than $110 million invested in community development initiatives and about $46 million spent on land rehabilitation since 2016.
The mining company emphasized that Ghana’s mineral resources are legally vested in the state and held in trust for the people. It said its lease-renewal application was submitted directly to the Government of Ghana in July 2026 in accordance with the country’s legal and regulatory framework.
The dispute comes as the government considers changes to Ghana’s mining laws, including proposals that could reduce the duration of future lease renewals from 30 years to 10 years.
It also emerges amid increasing public pressure for stronger Ghanaian participation in the mining industry and demands for host communities to receive a fairer share of the wealth generated from their lands.
The final decision on the Tarkwa lease rests with the government and the relevant regulatory authorities. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is expected to assess the renewal application alongside the chiefs’ petition, environmental obligations, national economic interests and applicable mining laws.
Source: Omanghana
