Gold Fields Ghana has stepped up its case for continued operations at the Tarkwa mine, highlighting the mine’s economic contribution to Ghana as the company awaits government consideration of its lease renewal proposal.
The mining company said 74% of the value generated by Tarkwa remains within Ghana, through payments to the state, employee compensation, local procurement and investments in host communities.
The company’s lease renewal proposal comes as discussions continue over the future of one of Ghana’s largest gold mining operations. Gold Fields submitted its application for renewal of the Tarkwa mining leases in November 2025 and presented a proposal to government in July 2026.
Gold Fields said maintaining continuity at Tarkwa would allow the mine to continue supporting government revenues, local businesses, jobs and community development.
According to the company, Tarkwa contributed about GH¢5.8 billion to the Government of Ghana in 2025 through corporate taxes, royalties, dividends and other statutory payments.
The company also reported approximately GH¢8.8 billion in local procurement spending during the year, including GH¢6.5 billion with suppliers in host communities.
Gold Fields is also pointing to its community investment record as part of its broader argument around the future of the mine. Through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, the company said it has invested more than US$110 million in projects covering education, healthcare, infrastructure, water and sanitation, agriculture and enterprise development.
The company highlighted initiatives including the Tarkwa-Damang asphalt road, schools, scholarships, healthcare projects and skills development programmes as examples of its contribution to host communities.
Gold Fields said local participation remains a key part of its operations, with about 70% of Tarkwa mine employees drawn from host communities and 99% of the workforce being Ghanaian.
The company also cited its environmental rehabilitation efforts, saying it has invested about US$46 million in progressive rehabilitation since 2016 and planted more than 818,000 trees since 1998.
Gold Fields said the scale and complexity of Tarkwa require significant capital investment, technical expertise and long-term operational capability, arguing that continued operatorship would help sustain jobs and economic benefits linked to the mine.
The company’s lease renewal proposal is now awaiting feedback from the relevant authorities as the government manages the renewal process under Ghana’s mining laws.
