Think tank that conducted May 2026 nationwide approval rating polls and proposed denying Gold Fields' Tarkwa mining lease renewal in favour of local 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). …
… The Media, GJA, political parties, and Civil society organisations such as the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), IMANI Africa, IDEG, fact-checking organisations, and academic instit …
… 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. …
… Another major topic on the programme will be the latest approval ratings of President John Dramani Mahama released by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), with panellists expected to assess the findings and their implications for government performance and public confidence. …
Most Ghanaians continue to approve of President John Mahama’s job performance, but public satisfaction has slipped, according to a nationwide poll released today, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). …
Most Ghanaians continue to approve of President John Mahama’s job performance, but public satisfaction has slipped, according to a nationwide poll released today, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). …
Most Ghanaians continue to approve of President John Mahama’s job performance, but public satisfaction has slipped, according to a nationwide poll released today, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). …
… Their intervention comes amid growing debate over future ownership and management of Tarkwa Mine following proposals by some stakeholders, including the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), that the mine should be placed under Ghanaian control and operated by local mining entitie …
… The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is leading the push for nationalisation, represented by economist Samuel Manu, who will focus on ownership models, sovereign wealth, and whether a Ghanaian-led extractive industry alone can actually finance long-term growth and development. …
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.
Joy Prime's Saturday current affairs programme will feature panel discussions on Chairman Wontumi's plea bargain negotiations and his lawyer's withdrawal from court, the extradition and imprisonment of former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, and President Mahama's latest approval ratings from the Institute of Economic Affairs.
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.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has rejected calls by the Institute of Economic Affairs to nationalise mining assets, with the CEO arguing that the country should instead focus on strengthening regulation, transparency and investor confidence. He cautioned that nationalisation without careful consideration could undermine investor confidence and disrupt mining operations.
The Institute of Economic Affairs has opposed the renewal of Gold Fields' mining lease for Tarkwa, which expires in 2027, arguing that the decision would be harmful to Ghana's long-term interests and calling instead for a framework ensuring greater Ghanaian ownership. Gold Fields has applied for a 20-year extension and notes its Ghana operations account for about 25 per cent of the company's global gold output.
The Institute of Economic Affairs has called on the government to decisively reject a proposed 20-year extension of Gold Fields' current Tarkwa mining lease, which expires in April 2027, arguing the renewal is inimical to Ghana's long-term economic and strategic interests and urging a framework that secures meaningful Ghanaian ownership and control of the mine.