The CEO of Gold Fields, Mike Fraser, has said the mining company are not going to give up in any way on Tarkwa.
According to him, in November last year, Gold Fields submitted a lease extension for the Tarkwa mine, which will give them another 20 years of mining at Tarkwa.
Speaking at the Awudua in the Western Region on May 7 during a courtesy call on Nana Asare Brempong II, and the elders of the Apinto Divisional Area, disclosing that Gold Fields is not going to give up in any way on Tarkwa.
He stated, “We are not going to give up in any way on Tarkwa. In November last year, we submitted a lease extension for the Tarkwa mine, which would give us… another 20 years of mining at Tarkwa”.
Mike Fraser’s comments have ignited a debate on social media with Ghanaians calling the government not to renew their mining lease.
A netizen stated, “You’ve been mining here for 30 years, yet look at Tarkwa compared to Johannesburg!
If our government extends this lease, we can agree that Ghana’s problem is our leaders and no one else!!”.
One X user added, “We shall see who packs and leaves when your time is up. I think this calls for a demonstration beforehand. We Ghanaians demonstrate to make sure your license is not renewed when your time is up. We have the local companies that can do a similar, if not better, job, and pay Ghana much more than you have done in the last years. Go back to South Africa
@GoldFields_LTD”.
A netizen quizzed, “What developments has @GoldFields_LTD done for the people of Tarkwa that should guarantee your stay for the next 20 years..? Your time is up, you guys should pack and go”.
“He is forgetting one important thing, “the expiration of the mining license”. That will need renewal, which, from what I see, will not be renewed. There are capable Ghanaians who have the equipment and knowledge to run the mines successfully. South Africans, it’s time to go home”, a netizen added.
One X user added, “@JDMahama if anyone dares renew their license, the demonstration this country will face will be dire. At least the cost of relocating the Ghanaians in South Africa could be covered if Mr Ibrahim Mahama is given the takeover. He has helped Ghana more than any individual”.
Also, Kofi Bentil, Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, has told Gold Fields to go back to their country, South Africa, as the Ghana government will not renew their mining lease.
According to Kofi Bentil, they will do everything they can to ensure the Gold Fields lease is not renewed because people in South Africa are hostile to the Ghanaian people.
He asserted that there is no proper reason to allow Gold Fields to profit from Ghana’s resources when its people treat Ghanaians like bandits.
In a Facebook post, Kofi Bentil wrote, “We will do everything we can to ensure your lease is not renewed because people in your country are hostile to our people. There is no proper reason to allow you to profit from our resources when your people treat us like bandits!!! It is our land, our gold and our lease; we won’t renew it for you. If our government tries, we will fight it!!! .
Go back to your country !!!”.
In another post, Kofi Bentil added, “Make no mistake, Ghana is not retaliating in the same measure! We have not sacked MTN, DSTV or SHOPRITE yet, although SA citizens are oppressing us. The resistance against the Goldfields lease is just a small and reasonable response. #DontRenewGoldfieldsLease”.
Watch the video below:
“We are not going to give up in any way on Tarkwa. In November last year, we submitted a lease extension for the Tarkwa mine, which would give us… another 20 years of mining at Tarkwa.” – CEO of Gold Fields, Mike Fraser, made the remarks at Awudua in the Western Region on May 7… pic.twitter.com/Xi0SmCmNl3
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) May 27, 2026
