Leaders from Huniso and surrounding communities in the Western Region have expressed their support for Gold Fields Ghana's 20-year lease renewal for the Tarkwa Mine. The group, known as the Concerned Opinion Leaders of Huniso and Surrounding Communities, has rejected a proposal to transfer the mine to a wholly Ghanaian-owned entity.
Huniso Leaders Back Gold Fields, Reject Local Takeover Plan
The proposal, which the group described as "reckless, economically unviable and deeply disingenuous," aims to have the government reject Gold Fields' lease renewal and hand over the mine to a local entity. The Concerned Opinion Leaders have urged the government, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Minerals Commission to subject the proposal to careful scrutiny.
Speaking at a press engagement, the group's Convener, Nana Kwesi Ansah, said that modern large-scale mining requires substantial capital, technical expertise, specialized equipment, and strict environmental and safety standards. He emphasized that mining is not an arena for trial-and-error corporate governance and that the Tarkwa Mine is a world-class operation that requires continuous capital expenditure, high-level technical expertise, specialized equipment, and international environmental compliance standards.
Group Defends Gold Fields' Community Investments
The Concerned Opinion Leaders have also defended Gold Fields' contribution to the development of its host communities. Nana Kwesi Ansah said that while no mining operation is without environmental and social challenges, claiming that Gold Fields has contributed nothing significant to host communities is factually untrue. The group cited investments undertaken through the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, including the Tarkwa-Damang road, Tarkwa and Abosso Stadium, tertiary scholarships, water projects, health facilities, and agricultural initiatives.
Call for Stronger Community Development Agreement
The group has called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to proceed with the review of Gold Fields' lease renewal while using the process to negotiate stronger and legally binding commitments for communities within the mine's operational area. They demand improved local employment opportunities, technical training, and priority recruitment for young people in Tarkwa and surrounding communities. The group also wants Gold Fields to complete ongoing development projects, including the Health Training School project, and urgently address roads in poor condition within its operational catchment area.
The interests of workers, young people, traders, farmers, and other residents should remain at the centre of discussions about the future of the Tarkwa Mine, Nana Kwesi Ansah emphasized. The group's stance is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the future of the Tarkwa Mine, and it remains to be seen how the government and Gold Fields will respond to their demands.
Source: Joy Online
