Some of the graduate trainees The Tarkwa Mine of Gold Fields Ghana has welcomed 105 graduates into its 2026/2028 Graduate Training Programme, which is designed to build technical and professional skills as well as provide relevant work experience to enhance employability. …
… The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has argued that Ghana should reject the proposed lease extension and instead pursue greater Ghanaian ownership and control of the Tarkwa Mine. …
… This response follows a growing national debate over the future of the Tarkwa Mine, one of Africa’s largest open-pit gold operations, with the Chamber warning that attempts to reject the lease renewal on nationalist grounds risk reversing decades of mining sector reforms, weakeni …
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 …
By Kizito CUDJOE A sharp disagreement has emerged over the future of Gold Fields’ flagship Tarkwa Mine, exposing growing tensions between calls for greater Ghanaian control of strategic mineral assets and concerns over investor confidence in the country’s mining sector. …
… The Tarkwa Mine remains one of Ghana’s largest gold-producing mines and a major contributor to employment, foreign exchange earnings and local economic activity in the Western Region. …
IEA opposes Gold Fields Tarkwa lease renewal, urges Ghanaian control
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The Member of Parliament for Davis Opoku Ansah has supported calls opposing the renewal of Gold Fields’ lease for the Tarkwa Mine, insisting that Ghana must adopt a new approach to managing its mineral resources to secure greater economic benefit for the country. …
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. …
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. …
The Chief Executive Officer of Goldfields, Mike Fraser, has declared that the company will not back down in its pursuit of a lease extension for its flagship Tarkwa mine, signalling a major long-term investment plan tied to the asset. …
The government is considering transferring control of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine to local firms when the current lease expires in April 2027, according to Bloomberg sources. The potential transfer is part of efforts to increase government ownership of the gold industry, with any handover to be evaluated on environmental rehabilitation, local employment, and infrastructure development commitments.
Why it matters
The government is considering transferring control of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine to local firms when the current lease expires in April 2027, potentially increasing government ownership of the gold industry.
The government is considering transferring control of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine to local firms when the current lease expires in April 2027, according to Bloomberg sources. The potential transfer is part of efforts to increase government ownership of the gold industry, with any handover to be evaluated on environmental rehabilitation, local employment, and infrastructure development commitments.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to attracting foreign investment in mining, saying discussions about increasing local participation should not be misread as opposition to foreign direct investment. The assurance comes amid debate over mining lease renewals, including Gold Fields' Tarkwa Mine lease expiring in 2027, with GIPC noting Ghana's mining tradition has developed capable indigenous businesses ready to take greater responsibility in the sector.
Former Parliamentary Energy and Mines Committee Chair Dr Kwabena Donkor has proposed that Ghana's state retain ownership of mining assets while contracting indigenous companies to conduct operations, arguing the country now possesses the technical expertise and managerial capacity to retain a larger share of mineral wealth benefits. He advocates reviving the State Gold Mining Corporation as a lean asset-holding entity rather than an operator.
Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson has expressed concern about mining companies pressuring the government to renew mining leases and then immediately selling them to other investors. He cited Newmont's sale of its Akyem Gold Mine Project to Zijin Mining Group for US$1 billion a month after securing a lease extension, saying such practices should not be encouraged as they undermine mutual trust.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has signalled a tougher stance on mining lease renewals, warning that the government may no longer view favourably situations where companies secure lease extensions only to sell the assets shortly afterwards. He cited a recent Newmont transaction where a renewed lease was sold within a month for approximately one billion dollars, questioning whether such arrangements align with the original intent behind granting lease extensions.
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.
Chiefs and residents of communities hosting Gold Fields' Tarkwa Mine have thrown their support behind the company's application for an extension of its mining lease, citing its contributions to local employment, development, and infrastructure. The residents appealed to the government to renew the lease before its expiry in April 2027.
Gold Fields says it has invested approximately US$5 billion in Ghana over 30 years and that more than 70 per cent of revenue from its operations remains in-country. The company announced plans for more than US$1 billion in fresh capital investment over the next three to four years, amid ongoing debate over mining lease renewals and resource nationalism.
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.
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has enrolled 105 graduates from its host communities into a two-year Graduate Training Programme designed to provide practical skills and industry experience in mining and mining support services, including certifications in competency and Lean Six Sigma.
The Tarkwa Mine of Gold Fields Ghana has enrolled 105 graduates into its 2026/2028 Graduate Training Programme, designed to build technical and professional skills and provide work experience. The 24-month programme, led by experienced professionals, includes training in safety, technical competence, and professional growth, with support for Minerals Commission competency certification and Lean Six Sigma White Belt qualification.
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 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.
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 stressed the need for regulatory certainty and procedural fairness in mining enforcement, citing concerns over developments affecting Gold Fields' Tarkwa operations. The Chamber warned that uncertainty surrounding major mining operations could harm employment, host communities, and Ghana's attractiveness to international investors.
Davis Opoku Ansah, MP for Mpraeso, has urged Ghana to secure greater economic benefit from its mineral resources, arguing that successive governments have failed to maximise value from the nation's mineral wealth despite abundant resources. He cited mining communities like Tarkwa and Obuasi as examples of areas that continue to struggle with poor infrastructure and limited social amenities despite years of mining activity.
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.
Gold Fields CEO Mike Fraser has declared the company will pursue a lease extension for its Tarkwa mine, which expires in April 2027, signalling a major long-term investment plan. The company submitted an application in November seeking an extension of at least another 20 years and plans substantial reinvestment including equipment acquisition and expanded capacity.