Traditional leaders in the Apinto Traditional Area have questioned the developmental legacy of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, saying decades of mining have not translated into the level of socio-economic progress expected by communities that host the company’s Tarkwa Mine.
The chiefs say the time has come for a new mining model that places communities at the centre of resource governance and ensures that local people benefit more directly from the country’s mineral wealth.
Addressing journalists in Tarkwa, Gyasehene Nana Adarkwa Bediako III said while mining has generated significant wealth over the years, host communities have continued to struggle with inadequate development.
He argued that multinational mining companies have operated in the area for decades, yet many communities still face persistent infrastructure deficits, unemployment and limited economic opportunities.
According to him, the Council is therefore urging the Government not to renew Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mining lease when it expires in April 2027 but to award the concession to a Ghanaian-owned company capable of creating broader national and community benefits.
The chiefs believe such a move would deepen local participation in the mining sector while ensuring that future investments deliver tangible improvements in the lives of residents.
They also appealed to Parliament, the Minerals Commission and other stakeholders to consider the long-term interests of host communities when making decisions about the future of the Tarkwa Mines.
