Gold Fields files Tarkwa gold lease proposal with Ghana government
DAKAR - Gold Fields submitted a "lease-renewal proposal" to Ghana this month for its Tarkwa gold mine, the company said on Monday.
The South African miner seeks to secure the long-term future of one of its biggest mining operations.
The lease for Tarkwa — a cornerstone asset for the South African miner that produced about 427 000 oz of gold in 2025 — expires in 2027.
The company lost control of its smaller Damang mine in April after Ghana's government declined to renew its mining lease, breaking with a longstanding practice of routinely extending permits for existing operators. The asset was subsequently awarded to local contractor Engineers & Planners (E&P), which has since begun production.
Some civil society groups and traditional leaders have called on the government - which has been implementing reforms aimed at boosting state revenue - to give the Tarkwa mine to locals, though officials have repeatedly said they remain committed to renewing the lease.
Ghana's mines ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gold Fields said its proposal sought to boost local participation, expand community benefits and procurement opportunities, and increase the mine's long-term economic contribution. Gold Fields submitted a formal lease renewal application in November 2025 and is awaiting a government decision, it added.
The company said its financial strength, technical expertise and capacity to fund major reinvestment and mine-life-extension projects make it best placed to lead Tarkwa through its next phase. It added that continued operatorship would safeguard jobs, support local suppliers and sustain government revenues.
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