Hundreds of youth, opinion leaders, Assembly Members, women and other residents of Tarkwa have taken to the streets in an unprecedented show of what organisers described as their “unadulterated love” and appreciation for GoldFields Ghana Limited, demanding the renewal of the company’s mining lease.
The demonstration was remarkable for its departure from the traditional pattern of protests in mining communities, where residents often march against mining companies over environmental concerns, pollution, inadequate infrastructure or perceived failures in corporate social responsibility.
In Tarkwa, however, residents chose the opposite path — marching in solidarity with a mining company and asking the government to allow it to continue operating. The demonstrators said their action was a reflection of the value they place on GoldFields’ more than three decades of investment in the Tarkwa area, particularly in infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment, scholarships and livelihood development.
The lease of the Tarkwa mine expires in April 2027, with Gold Fields having submitted an application for renewal in 2025. Clad in red bands and carrying placards bearing messages such as “GoldFields Must Stay,” “Renegotiate GoldFields Deal,” “Remember Damang Road” and “Remember Tarkwa Stadium,” the marchers said the company’s contribution to the socio-economic development of Tarkwa must be given serious consideration in the lease-renewal process.
The demonstration brought together people from different sections of the community, including young people who have directly benefited from Gold Fields’ scholarship programmes and other interventions. For the organisers, the sheer diversity of the participants — youth, women, opinion leaders, elected Assembly Members, contractors, traders and other residents — was evidence of a broad community appreciation for the company’s contribution to Tarkwa.
They said the decision to demonstrate in favour of a mining company was itself a powerful statement, particularly in a country where mining companies are more commonly confronted with protests from host communities.
A SHOW OF APPRECIATION
The demonstrators maintained that their action was not simply about GoldFields retaining its mining rights, but about recognising what they consider to be decades of tangible investment in the community.
They pointed to major infrastructure projects, educational support, scholarships, healthcare interventions, road construction, livelihood programmes and other community initiatives undertaken by the company and the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation.
The demonstration, therefore, provided a public platform for beneficiaries and residents to express their appreciation for what they described as the company’s enduring contribution to Tarkwa.
The action went ahead despite reported attempts by influential individuals to halt the demonstration. It also comes against the backdrop of opposition to the lease renewal by some Apinto traditional authorities.
The position of the chiefs has shocked sections of the community, particularly against the background of the long-standing relationship between the traditional authorities, host communities and Gold Fields.
Some residents have described the chiefs’ decision as a betrayal of the mining company after more than 30 years of cooperation and investment, while contrasting it with what they say is the broader community’s appreciation of GoldFields.
PETITION TO GOVERNMENT
At the end of the march, the organisers presented a petition to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, which was received on his behalf by the Municipal Chief Executive for Tarkwa. The petition called on the government to approve the renewal of the Gold Fields mining lease.
The organisers said their demand was motivated by the long-term economic and social interests of Tarkwa, the host communities, the Western Region and Ghana as a whole.
“We make the request as Assembly Members, teachers, youth, women, contractors of GoldFields, shop owners, farmers, market women and others who have experienced first-hand both the benefits and impacts associated with mining,” they stated.
They argued that the challenges associated with mining should be addressed through effective regulation, accountability, stronger community participation and continuous improvement, rather than disrupting a viable mining operation.
“The unnecessary disruption of a viable operation with a substantial Ghanaian and host community workforce and a significant record of social investment does not paint a good picture for Ghana,” the petition stated.
The residents consequently urged the government to complete the statutory, technical, environmental and commercial assessment of GoldFields’ application and subject to the company satisfying all applicable legal requirements, grant the renewal ahead of April 2027.
The petition was copied to the President, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa, the Minerals Commission, the Western Regional Minister, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Gold Fields Ghana Limited, among other stakeholders.
The demonstration has consequently introduced a significant new dimension into the increasingly intense debate over the future of the Tarkwa mine — the voice of a section of the host community openly asking government to retain an established mining operator because of the value they believe it has created over three decades.
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