The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, has appealed to the chiefs and people of the Apinto Traditional Area to choose constructive engagement and dialogue in addressing concerns over the renewal of Gold Fields Ghana Limited’s Tarkwa mining leases, rather than pursue a path that could create uncertainty for the local economy and Ghana’s investment environment.
Speaking at the 2026 Zone One Inter-Mine First Aid and Safety Competition hosted by Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine on Saturday, August 15, 2026, Ing. Ashigbey acknowledged concerns among some traditional authorities and community stakeholders about whether Tarkwa had received an adequate share of the wealth generated from mining. He stressed that such concerns were legitimate and should not be dismissed.
“If Nananom believe there are outstanding community needs, let us put those needs clearly on the table,” he said, pointing to employment, local procurement, infrastructure, skills and enterprise development, environmental management and greater participation by host communities as issues that could form part of deeper negotiations.
He, however, cautioned against allowing legitimate concerns to undermine a relationship and economic ecosystem that had taken decades to build.
The Chamber CEO therefore appealed to the traditional authorities to deepen their engagement with Gold Fields, clearly articulate their expectations and require the company to similarly place its commitments on the table.
“Let us negotiate. Let us hold each other accountable. And let us find common ground that protects the legitimate interests of the people of Tarkwa while preserving the investment, employment and economic ecosystem that has been built here,” he said.
Ing. Dr. Ashigbey argued that discussions over the future of the Tarkwa Mine must go beyond the mining lease itself because the operation supports a wider economic ecosystem involving workers and their families, contractors, suppliers, transport operators, hotels, restaurants, artisans, traders and other businesses.
He highlighted Gold Fields’ contribution to the development of Tarkwa over more than three decades, including investments through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation in education, health, water and sanitation, infrastructure, enterprise development and agriculture. He cited the 33-kilometre Tarkwa-Damang road, constructed at an estimated cost of US$27 million, and noted that cumulative investment by the Foundation in host-community development had exceeded US$100 million by 2023.
The CEO stressed that this history did not mean mining companies should be insulated from demands to deliver greater benefits to their host communities. Rather, he said the lease renewal process provided an opportunity for the company, traditional authorities, communities and other stakeholders to negotiate for a stronger partnership.
“Let engagement prevail over confrontation. Let us sit with Gold Fields. Let the community articulate clearly what it requires from the next phase of the relationship. Let Gold Fields listen and respond,” he urged.
In her keynote address at the competition, Tarkwa Mine Manager of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, underscored the company’s commitment to its host communities, noting that its responsibility for safety and wellbeing extends beyond the boundaries of the mine.
She said Gold Fields recognises that the wellbeing of its host communities is closely connected to its operations and continues to work with community leaders, schools, emergency services, security agencies and other local stakeholders to promote safety awareness and emergency preparedness.
Dr Kuutor further emphasised that responsible mining should not be measured solely by production, but also by the quality of life mining helps to protect and improve in host communities.
She said safety-conscious communities protect families, preserve livelihoods and make development more sustainable, reinforcing the importance of partnership between mining companies and the communities in which they operate.
