Wassa Fiase chiefs push for Ghanaian ownership of the Tarkwa Gold Mine concession as Gold Fields leases near expiry

Chiefs in the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area have urged President John Dramani Mahama to transfer the Tarkwa Gold Mine concession to a Ghanaian investor upon the expiry of Gold Fields Ghana Limited's mining leases in April 2027. At a general meeting of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council on November 4, 2026, they highlighted the lack of benefits for host communities, citing poor roads, inadequate infrastructure, and delayed royalty payments.

The Apinto Divisional Council, responsible for the mine's location, has petitioned the government against extending Gold Fields' leases, demanding the concession be awarded to a Ghanaian operator committed to investing in the surrounding communities. The Queen Mother of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, Nana Abena Konadwoa II, expressed frustration over unmet requests for improved infrastructure, pointing out the disparity between Gold Fields' profits and its community contributions.

She advocated for a Ghanaian operator capable of delivering similar projects, such as roads, hospitals, and sports facilities, to the communities surrounding the Tarkwa mine. Nana Adu Panyin of the Apinto Divisional Council echoed these concerns, noting delays in royalty payments, exacerbated by an ongoing land dispute that has prevented the release of funds.

Other traditional chiefs, including Nana Kwabena Gyan II from Bogoso, Nana Sompreh from Prestea-Heman, and Nana Nteboah Prah from Prestea-Heman, also supported the call for a Ghanaian-owned operation. The Tarkwa Gold Mine, one of Ghana's principal gold-producing sites, spans about 20,825 hectares across four open pits and a processing plant with a capacity to process 13.5 million tonnes of ore annually.