Sunday, 23 August 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Sunday, 23 August 2026

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Ghanaian press · Organization

Institute of Economic Affairs

Think tank that has urged Ghana to refuse Gold Fields' Tarkwa Mine lease renewal and conducted presidential approval polling.

2026-05-132026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

May 2026
14 MayJoy Online
… 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 mines
13 MayJoy Online
The 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 ownership
13 MayJoy Online
The 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

Mining & Energy

Ghana must assert greater control over mineral resources

The News

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.

18 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 18 August

Ghana must assert greater control over mineral resources
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.
18 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 10 August

MMDCE reform proposal raises concerns over partisan control
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.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 5 August

NPP rejects Supreme Court ruling on delegate system
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.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Supreme Court ruling on delegate system poses financial burden on parties
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.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 24 July

Apinto chiefs seek equity stake in Tarkwa gold mine
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.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 7 July

Private citizen petitions Council of State over Gold Fields lease renewal
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.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 23 June

IEA's proposal to deny Gold Fields lease renewal risks harming local businesses
The Business & Financial Times publishes an opinion piece arguing that the Institute of Economic Affairs' May 2026 call to deny Gold Fields' mining lease renewal in Tarkwa and award it to a local owner would paradoxically harm Ghanaian enterprises that have grown within the mining ecosystem, including Engineers and Planners, ZEN Petroleum Holdings, Western Transport Services, and Genser Energy.
23 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times →

Monday 22 June

Governance expert proposes state takeover of Tarkwa gold mine in 2027
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.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 16 June

Ghana's free speech and media freedoms: progress and emerging challenges
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.
16 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 13 June

Mahama approval ratings decline reflects public frustration over economy
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.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 12 June

Prime Insight to discuss Wontumi plea deal, Sedina extradition, Mahama ratings
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.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 10 June

Mahama's approval rating drops to 58.9% but majority still back him
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.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Mahama's approval rating falls to 58.9%, majority still support him
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.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Mahama approval rating falls 9.1 points to 58.9% in IEA poll
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.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 5 June

Host communities endorse Gold Fields lease renewal at Tarkwa Mine
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.
5 June 2026 · Business & Financial Times →

Monday 25 May

Joy Business examines Ghana's future in mining and extractives
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.
25 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 20 May

Policy rate cuts need cheaper bank loans to boost growth
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.
20 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana Chamber of Mines opposes IEA call to terminate Tarkwa lease
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.
20 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Tuesday 19 May

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.
19 May 2026 · 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.
19 May 2026 · 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 May 2026 · 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 →