Ghana: Tarkwa residents demonstrate for Gold Fields lease renewal

Residents, youth and opinion leaders in communities within the catchment area of the Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine have demonstrated in support of the renewal of the company’s mining lease, which expires in April 2027.

The demonstrators marched through parts of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, calling on the government to allow Gold Fields to continue operating the Tarkwa Mine.

They cited the company’s investments in education, healthcare, roads, skills training and local economic development as reasons for their support.

Assembly Member for New Atuabo, John Nsoh, said Gold Fields had undertaken several projects that had benefited communities across the municipality.

He mentioned the T&A Park, the Bogoso Junction-Damang road and the Budo City-Bogoso Junction road, among other projects.

“Gold Fields is the light of Tarkwa, and if Gold Fields goes off now, Tarkwa will go off as well,” he said, appealing to the government to renew the company’s lease.

Another demonstrator, John Davies, argued that Gold Fields had made a significant contribution to the municipality compared with other mining companies operating in the area.

He urged the government to renew the lease to enable the company to continue its operations and community investments.

The demonstrators said the continued operation of the mine was important for employment, community development and economic activity in Tarkwa and surrounding communities.

Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mining lease is scheduled to expire in April 2027, making its renewal a key issue for the company, government and communities around the mine.