The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has urged the government to reject plans to extend the mining lease of Gold Fields Ghana for the Tarkwa Mine, insisting that Ghana must take strategic control of one of its most valuable mineral assets, when the current lease expires in Apr …
IEA Talks Tough: Ghana Must Take Control Of Tarkwa Mine …When The Lease Expires Next YearGhana Minute.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Accra—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Ghanaian press · Organization
Institute of Economic Affairs
Institute of Economic Affairs — think tank that has called on Ghana to reject Gold Fields' Tarkwa mine lease renewal and assert state control of mining assets.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- May 2026
… The dispute follows calls from the Institute of Economic Affairs for the government to reject Gold Fields’ reported application for a 20-year lease extension, arguing that Ghana should seize this “historic opportunity” to reclaim ownership and strategic control of one of Africa’s …
IEA, Chamber of Mines split over Tarkwa lease extension… Ken Ashigbey, has pushed back against proposals by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) to nationalise mining assets in Ghana, insisting that the country must rather focus on strengthening regulation, transparency and investor confidence. …
Ghana Chamber of Mines rejects calls by IEA to nationalise minesThe Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has intensified calls for Ghana to prioritise local ownership of its natural resources, opposing the renewal of Gold Fields’ lease for the Tarkwa mines as it approaches expiration in 2027. …
IEA opposes renewal of Gold Fields Tarkwa mining lease, calls for greater Ghanaian ownershipThe Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has urged the government to reject decisively the extension of the current mining lease at the Tarkwa Mine, which expires in April 2027, by 20 years. …
Reject decisively extension of current Tarkwa mining lease for Gold Fields – IEA to government
Business
Banking expert proposes new tax on Ghana's profitable banks
The News
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.
12 hours ago · Joy Online →
Yesterday
Banking expert proposes new tax on Ghana's profitable banks
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.
12 hours ago · Joy Online →
Opinion: IEA's resource nationalism case against Gold Fields lease flawed
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.
13 hours ago · Joy Online →
Ghana must carefully assess capacity before taking Tarkwa Mine
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.
19 hours ago · Joy Online →
Gold Fields Foundation rejects neglect claims in Tarkwa communities
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.
19 May 2026 · The Chronicle →
Monday 18 May
Chamber of Mines defends Gold Fields' Tarkwa lease extension bid
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.
18 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Mining ownership shift alone won't solve Ghana's development gap
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.
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Saturday 16 May
Ghana should expand local mining control cautiously
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.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Prof Bokpin urges critical review of IEA mining nationalization proposal
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.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Friday 15 May
Newsfile panel discusses IMF exit, ECG privatisation, free speech
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.
15 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Newsfile to debate IMF exit, ECG privatization, free speech concerns
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.
15 May 2026 · Joy Online →
IEA urges Ghana to reject Tarkwa Mine lease renewal
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.
15 May 2026 · The Chronicle →
IEA and Chamber of Mines diverge on Tarkwa gold mine lease
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.
15 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Thursday 14 May
Ghana Chamber of Mines opposes IEA nationalisation proposal
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.
14 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Wednesday 13 May
IEA opposes Gold Fields Tarkwa lease renewal, urges Ghanaian control
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.
13 May 2026 · Joy Online →
IEA urges government to reject Gold Fields' Tarkwa lease extension
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.
13 May 2026 · Joy Online →