The Apinto Divisional Council has called on the government to make host communities equity partners in Gold Fields Ghana Limited’s Tarkwa Mine, arguing that the ongoing lease renewal process presents an opportunity to create a more inclusive model of mining ownership.
The demand comes as the government considers Gold Fields’ application for a 20-year renewal of its Tarkwa mining leases, which are due to expire in April 2027.
Addressing a press conference in Tarkwa, the Council said communities that have hosted mining operations for decades deserve a direct stake in the wealth generated from mineral resources extracted from their lands.
To support its proposal, the traditional council unveiled an “Apinto Shared Prosperity Proposal,” which it plans to submit to the government as a framework for giving host communities and traditional authorities a role in the ownership, governance and benefits of mining operations.
According to the chiefs, decades of mining have contributed significantly to national revenue but have delivered limited development to communities that continue to bear the environmental and social impacts of mining.
The Council said an assessment of the Tarkwa Mine area found that more than 4,000 hectares of land within the Apinto Traditional Area had been degraded, affecting farming activities and the livelihoods of residents.
It also cited poor road infrastructure, inadequate health and educational facilities, and high youth unemployment as evidence that mining benefits have not been equitably shared.
“A mine that generates wealth from the lands of Apinto must also create lasting prosperity and sustainable development for the people of Apinto,” the Council stated.
The chiefs argued that Ghana’s mining framework should move beyond royalties and corporate social responsibility programmes to one that gives host communities a direct economic interest in mining operations.
