Hundreds of youth and community members in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region have taken to the streets in a demonstration calling for the renewal of Gold Fields Ghana’s mining leases.

Dressed in white, the demonstrators, joined by chiefs and residents from host communities including Teberebe, Pepesa, Huniso, Abekoase and Samahu, expressed support for the continued operation of the company.

The youth leadership, headed by the Assembly Member for the Tarkwa New Atuabo Electoral Area, Richard Nsoh, said Gold Fields has played a significant role in the development of communities within the Wassa area.

They cited the company’s support for education, healthcare, infrastructure and employment, including scholarships, technical apprenticeships and career opportunities that they said had produced local doctors, nurses, engineers and university lecturers.

The demonstrators also pointed to projects including the Tarkwa Community Stadium, road networks linking Tarkwa to Damang and Huni Valley, and support for medical education through the Gold Fields Foundation.

Community leaders and women’s groups warned that disrupting Gold Fields’ operations could affect ongoing development projects and youth employment.

They, therefore, called on the government and local authorities to resolve any outstanding issues through dialogue with traditional leaders and approve the renewal of the company’s leases.

The residents have petitioned the government to renew the five Tarkwa Mine leases, which are due to expire in April 2027, and complete the process well before the expiry date.

"What we are telling the government is that Gold Fields does everything for us: this stadium, scholarships which have produced graduates in Tarkwa's villages, etc. We are appealing to the government to rescind any decision to hand Gold Fields over to a Blackman," a man who led the protests told the media. 

In unison, the protesters threatened illegal mining (galamsey) if their requests were not favourably attended to.

"It'd be better to do galamsey with the land than to hand this business over to a Blackman," they said.

Their leader noted the strength in their numbers, adding that they brought a thousand t-shirts for the demonstration which were exhausted leaving many others to participate in the protest in their own clothing.

Gold Fields submitted its application for renewal of the five leases in November 2025, seeking an extension that would allow the Tarkwa operation to continue beyond the current lease period.

The petitioners said the renewal was important not only to Tarkwa and its host communities but also to the Western Region and Ghana as a whole.

They said challenges associated with mining should be addressed through effective regulation, accountability, greater community participation and continuous improvement, rather than disrupting an operation with a significant Ghanaian and local workforce and a record of social investment.