Gold Fields Ghana has pushed back against concerns raised by the Apinto Divisional Council over the renewal of the Tarkwa mining leases, arguing that the position expressed by the traditional authority does not reflect the company’s long-standing partnership with host communities and its contribution to Ghana’s economy.
In a statement released on Monday, July 27, Gold Fields Ghana said recent media reports regarding the position of the Apinto Divisional Council on the renewal of the Tarkwa mining leases did not represent the broader relationship it has maintained with traditional authorities and communities in Tarkwa.
“This position is not reflective of Gold Fields’ long-standing partnership with traditional authorities and host communities at Tarkwa, nor of the significant investment made in community development over many years and significant taxes and royalties paid to Government,” the company said.
Gold Fields said it has operated the Tarkwa mine for more than three decades as a partner to the Government of Ghana, traditional authorities, host communities, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders.
The company said it has maintained regular engagement with community representatives through platforms including the Tarkwa Mine Community Consultative Committee, community forums and other governance structures, where issues relating to mine operations, environmental management, community investment and the renewal of mining leases have been discussed.
Gold Fields submitted an application for renewal of the Tarkwa mining leases in November 2025 and presented a lease-renewal proposal to government in July 2026. The company said it remains engaged in the process and is awaiting feedback from the relevant authorities.
The miner said its proposal seeks to deepen local participation, strengthen community benefits, expand local procurement, support skills development and enhance long-term socio-economic value creation.
Gold Fields highlighted the economic contribution of Tarkwa mine, stating that approximately 74 cents of every dollar generated by the operation remains in Ghana through taxes, royalties, government dividends from its 10% free-carried equity ownership, salaries and benefits, local procurement and community investments.
In 2025, the company said it paid approximately GH¢5.8 billion to the Government of Ghana through corporate taxes, royalties, dividends and other statutory payments.
It added that it spent approximately GH¢8.8 billion through local procurement across Ghana, with GH¢6.5 billion directed to suppliers in host communities.
Gold Fields also pointed to its community development record through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, which it said has invested more than US$110 million in host communities across infrastructure, education, healthcare, water and sanitation, agriculture, enterprise development and environmental conservation.
The company cited projects including the 33-kilometre Tarkwa-Damang asphalt road, Tarkwa and Abosso sports stadiums, more than 52 schools, scholarships, healthcare projects, water infrastructure and skills development programmes.
Gold Fields said about 70% of employees at the Tarkwa mine come from host communities, while 99% of its workforce is Ghanaian.
On environmental management, the company said it has invested approximately US$46 million in progressive rehabilitation since 2016, with annual rehabilitation expenditure averaging US$4.2 million.
The company said more than 818,000 trees have been planted since 1998 as part of its rehabilitation efforts, which include reforestation, biodiversity restoration and restoring productive agricultural land for community use.
Gold Fields argued that Tarkwa is a large and complex mining operation requiring significant capital investment, technical expertise and long-term operational capability to sustain its future.
The company said continued operatorship would support job protection, maintain government revenues and strengthen local businesses linked to the mine.
Gold Fields added that it respects Ghana’s legal framework, under which mineral resources are held by the State in trust for the people of Ghana, and that the lease renewal process is managed through government.
The company said it recently met with the Apinto Divisional Council and will continue engaging traditional authorities, employees, communities and other stakeholders as discussions over the Tarkwa mining lease renewal continue.
