… His call echoes a broader debate in Ghana over national ownership of mineral resources, with the Institute of Economic Affairs also advocating greater Ghanaian control and value retention from the sector. …
… Nimako recalled that political parties represented in Parliament had previously engaged the Institute of Economic Affairs on proposals for state funding, but noted that any such arrangement must be supported by a comprehensive legal framework. …
… be revisited in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.“I think that the issue of state funding of political parties has been on the burner for a very long time,” he said, recalling discussions among political parties represented in Parliament and the Institute of Economic Affairs …
… The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has previously urged government not to renew the company’s lease, arguing that Ghana should pursue greater local ownership of strategic mineral assets. …
… The debate over the future of the Tarkwa mine has intensified after the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) urged the government to consider refusing the renewal of the lease and transferring the concession to Ghanaian ownership. …
On May 13, 2026, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) urged the Government of Ghana not to renew Gold Fields’ mining lease in Tarkwa, arguing that the concession should instead be granted to a local owner. …
… The application has attracted opposition from some civil society groups, academics and community advocates, including the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). …
… His comments come in response to a recent Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) survey, which reportedly shows a dip in public approval of the President’s performance. …
Former Speaker Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye has called for Ghana to take greater ownership and control of its mineral resources, arguing that decades of reliance on royalties from foreign mining companies have not delivered the economic transformation the country needs. He contends that Ghana should ensure meaningful ownership of minerals extracted from its soil while allowing foreign investors to provide capital and expertise.
Former Speaker Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye has called for Ghana to take greater ownership and control of its mineral resources, arguing that decades of reliance on royalties from foreign mining companies have not delivered the economic transformation the country needs. He contends that Ghana should ensure meaningful ownership of minerals extracted from its soil while allowing foreign investors to provide capital and expertise.
Ghana's proposed amendment to directly elect Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives on a non-partisan basis has drawn criticism from reform architect Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh and others, who argue that the government's plan to select three candidates for voters to choose from could perpetuate central control over local governance.
The New Patriotic Party has rejected the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the delegate system for internal party elections, arguing it imposes financial burden on parties and strengthens the case for state funding of political parties. Party Director of Elections Evans Nimako said the delegate system is integral to Ghana's democratic architecture and party building.
The NPP has warned that the Supreme Court's decision striking down the delegate system for internal party elections will significantly increase the cost of organising party primaries. The party's Director of Elections said the judgment would require political parties to organise larger-scale internal elections, making the process far more expensive than under the delegate system.
The Apinto Divisional Council is calling on government to make host communities equity partners in Gold Fields Ghana Limited's Tarkwa Mine during its ongoing lease renewal process. The chiefs argue that communities hosting mining operations for decades should have a direct stake in wealth generated from mineral resources extracted from their lands, and have developed an "Apinto Shared Prosperity Proposal" as a framework for ensuring traditional authorities and local communities participate in ownership, governance and benefits of mining operations.
A Ghanaian private citizen has petitioned the Council of State to intervene in debate over Gold Fields Ghana Limited's Tarkwa mining lease, warning that non-renewal could damage investor confidence. The petition comes after the Institute of Economic Affairs urged government to refuse renewal and transfer the concession to Ghanaian ownership, citing concerns that Ghana has not received adequate benefits from mineral extraction.
A governance expert has submitted a policy proposal to Ghana's government urging it not to renew Gold Fields Ghana's mining lease over the Tarkwa Gold Mine when it expires in 2027, instead proposing the state assume sovereign majority ownership of the mine. The proposal comes as Gold Fields has applied for a 20-year extension, which has drawn opposition from civil society groups and academics.
Ghana has developed one of Africa's most open communication environments since the 1992 Constitution, with citizens and journalists engaging freely on governance and public issues. However, new challenges including political polarization, misinformation, online harassment, digital surveillance, hate speech, economic pressures on journalism, and legal contestation of public expression have emerged in the digital age.
CenCES CEO James Kwabena Bomfeh says declining approval ratings for President Mahama reflect growing public frustration over economic conditions and unmet expectations. He attributes the dip to a disconnect between macroeconomic improvements and household realities, including rising utility costs and stagnant wages.
According to an IEA poll conducted in May 2026 across all sixteen regions of Ghana, President John Mahama's job approval rating has fallen to 58.9%, down from 68% in December 2025, though 28.4% disapprove and 12.8% have no opinion. Among approvers, 73.5% cite the government's handling of the economy as the overwhelming reason for their support.
President John Mahama's job approval rating has dropped to 58.9% from 68% in December 2025, according to an IEA poll of over 1,000 respondents conducted across Ghana's sixteen regions in May 2026. While 28.4% disapprove and 12.8% have no opinion, the wide gap between approval and disapproval shows positive assessments remain well ahead of critical ones, with economic management cited as the overwhelming reason for approval among supporters.
President John Mahama's job approval rating has dropped from 68% in December 2025 to 58.9% in May 2026, according to an IEA nationwide poll of over 1,000 respondents across all sixteen regions. Despite the decline, a majority still approve of his performance, with the economy cited as the overwhelming reason for support among approvers.
Communities hosting the Tarkwa Mine have called on government to renew Gold Fields Ghana Limited's mining lease when it expires in 2027, warning that denial could jeopardise thousands of jobs and disrupt economic activity in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality. Community leaders support increased local participation in mining but say any transition must prioritise technical competence, financial strength and operational experience.
Joy Business is hosting a national roundtable discussion titled "To Nationalise or Transform? Rethinking Ghana's Approach to Mining, Oil and Critical Minerals" to examine whether greater Ghanaian ownership of the extractive sector is sufficient for national benefit, or if deeper reforms in governance, financing, and accountability are needed.
An economist says cuts in the Bank of Ghana's policy rate will have limited impact on economic growth unless commercial banks also reduce lending rates. He argued that monetary easing must be transmitted through lower lending costs and stronger private-sector credit to effectively stimulate the economy.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has urged the government to reject calls by the Institute of Economic Affairs to terminate Gold Fields Ghana's Tarkwa Mine lease, warning that doing so could weaken investor confidence and destabilise the mining sector. The chamber's CEO said Ghana's gold production increased from about 216,000 ounces in 1983 to nearly three million ounces in 2025, and that the government captures more than 60 per cent of mining rents through taxes, royalties, and dividends.
Dr Sajid M Chaudhry of Aston University argues that banks operating in Ghana are too profitable and proposes a "bank tax" to generate public revenue for development goals and green investments. He suggests a 5% tax on profit before tax of 10 big banks would yield approximately GH¢264 million, and a 1% tax on treasury securities would yield GH¢577 million in the short term.
An opinion piece argues that the Institute of Economic Affairs' call for Ghana to deny Gold Fields' mining lease renewal in favour of local ownership overlooks the company's consistent tax and environmental compliance and Ghana's need to maintain investment-friendly frameworks for attracting foreign capital.
An opinion piece argues that while Ghana has technical expertise to operate the Tarkwa Mine independently, the country must cautiously evaluate whether it possesses the broader institutional and financial capacity to sustain a world-class large-scale mining operation, given the complex global systems involved in modern multinational mining.
The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has rejected allegations that it has failed to undertake meaningful corporate social responsibility projects in host communities around Tarkwa, describing the claims as inaccurate. The denial comes amid public debate over renewal of the Tarkwa mine lease, which expires in April 2027.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has defended Gold Fields' application to extend its Tarkwa mining lease, accusing the Institute of Economic Affairs of advancing "material factual inaccuracies" and warning that rejecting the renewal could weaken investor confidence and Ghana's competitive standing in mining.
An opinion piece argues that while Ghana's mining wealth must benefit communities more, the critical issue is not whether mines are foreign- or Ghanaian-owned, but whether ownership changes would actually alter business realities—tax payments, royalties, operational costs, and community spending.
Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, supports greater Ghanaian participation in mining but warns against abrupt policy shifts that could damage investor confidence and legal stability. He argues policy changes must be guided by data, history, and legal predictability rather than ideological calls, and notes Ghanaian involvement in the sector has already increased significantly.
Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin has urged policymakers not to dismiss proposals by the Institute of Economic Affairs calling for greater state control over mining assets, arguing that Ghana has not fully benefited from its natural resources and should reassess its fiscal regime and mining agreements as leases near expiration.
Joy Online's Newsfile programme convenes a national discussion on Ghana's IMF exit, ECG privatisation, and free speech, amid political tensions over accusations of law enforcement being used to intimidate dissent and diplomatic challenges around repatriating Ghanaian citizens from South Africa.
Joy Online reports that Newsfile will discuss Ghana's IMF exit, ECG privatization, attacks on free speech, and the repatriation of citizens from South Africa following xenophobic violence. The program will also examine debates over resource nationalism and state ownership of strategic sectors.
The Institute of Economic Affairs has called on government to reject Gold Fields Ghana's request to extend its mining lease for the Tarkwa Mine, arguing that Ghana should take strategic control of the asset when the current lease expires in April 2027. The IEA contends that Ghana now has the capacity to manage the mine in its national interest and that renewing the lease would undermine the country's long-term economic and strategic goals.
The Institute of Economic Affairs has called on the government to reject Gold Fields' application for a 20-year lease extension of the Tarkwa Mine, arguing Ghana should reclaim ownership of the asset. The Ghana Chamber of Mines, however, warned that public pressure over the renewal risks damaging legal certainty and Ghana's reputation as a mining investment destination.