An Open Letter to President Mahama: Renew Gold Fields’ Lease, Redefine Ghana’s Mining Future

Dear Your Excellency,

I wish and pray you, your family and your supporting hardworking staff are very fine.

Sir, this is to join the clarion call for a further extension of the Mining Rights of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, a Corporate Citizen of Ghana, as made by the very forward-looking and very grateful Chiefs, Queen Mothers, Assemblymen, Youth, and people of some of the host Communities of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, especially from Huniso.

This may be so, due to their appreciating and very grateful for the monumental historic contributions of Goldfields Ghana Ltd to the economy of Ghana and the much related host communities. As well as Goldfields Ghana Ltd’s, support for local content and local participation policies , which have given Ghana, a first female General Mine Manager, in the person of Dr Catherine Kuutor.

Incidentally, Dr Catherine Kuutor comes from our Dear North, so Goldfields Ghana Ltd should be given the chance with a further renewal of the mining right and called upon to work hard to produce a Catherine Kuutor that is amongst the girl child from the Western Region.

Furthermore, I envisaged that the very appreciative and grateful people of Huniso and others want the lease of Goldfields Ghana Ltd to be extended due to the Company’s contribution to the success story of E&P of Mr Ibrahim Mahama, that of Nguvu Gold Group of Ms Angela List, that of Zen Petroleum of Mr William Tawiah.

As well as to some extent, the success story of another Ghanaian in the person of my good friend, Mr Baafour Asiamah Adjei, with his Energy Solution with Gensar Power Production Project, which started at Bogoso Gold Mine in 2007 and this writer, then as the Security Superintendent had to provide security for the Construction work and the final project or Station.

Baafour Asiamah Adjei with his Energy Solution is now with other Mining companies including Goldfields Ghana Ltd in the sub region providing alternative power from the national grid. Thus like E&P, Nguvu Gold Group, Gensar Power solution is also bringing additional foreign exchange from the sub region to Ghana.

His Excellency, Mr Baafour Asiamah Adjei, with his power solution, partnered with Goldfields Ghana Ltd, and both succeeded in getting the Tarkwa and Damang Gold Mine under Goldfields Ltd, to exit from the National Grid, in the painful era of Dumsor in 2016 and thus made power available to other sectors of the economy.

Hmm, Dumsor in 2016, that is 10 years after the 2006 power crisis and 10 years later, in 2026, Ghana experienced or is experiencing a little problem with power supply, contributed to the associated rumor of Dumsor is back. So Mr President, history tells that the 2016 Dumsor and the current seemingly turbulent power problem by 2026, that is 10 years after the Dumsor crisis of 2016, made your two Regimes as victim of no good work in the power generation by previous regimes in the Fourth Republic.

It should be noted that Ghana had/has the potential for more hydropower Stations with her numerous rivers but we allowed Small Scale Miners to deny Ghana to exploit Rivers like the Ankobra for cheap hydroelectric power.

Mr President, due to the good work of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, I hope you would now agree with me that you need to get the Sector Minister to renew the mining lease of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, without further dragging of feet, as a measure besides to ensure Investors Confidence, to express your delight and gratitude for the good work of Goldfields Ltd by partnering with one of your subject in the person Mr Baafour Asiamah Adjei and thus made both the Tarkwa and Damang Mine to exit from the National Grid. This good job, made power available to Industries and commercial firms to enjoy cheap and reliable power for the One District, One Factory of the Regime of President Nana Addo and now for your laudable 24 Hour Economy.

So Mr President unlike others, the very grateful people of Huniso, also took mental note of Goldfields Ghana Ltd’s contribution to the National grid stability. But Like Oliver Twist, they simple want more from Goldfields Ghana Ltd, especially they want Goldfields Ghana Ltd, to be charged by you to produce a Dr Catherine Kuutor among their girl child. As well as an Ibrahim Mahama or an Angela List or a William Tawiah from Huniso and or other areas within her catchment, in the next leg of 15 years, before exiting from Ghana.

Hence, the Company’s lease should be extended to give Goldfields Ghana Ltd the chance to produce a Dr Catherine Kuutor among their girl child and at least three Ibrahim Mahamas from the host communities as part of sustainability policy. That is besides ensuring minimization of ecological foot prints, the commitment to socially responsible practices, Goldfields Ghana Ltd’s should be made to ensure effective capacity building for some Ghanaians to qualify to compete for jobs in the global mining sector, see to the issue of transfer of technology, expertise and ownership of a mine, as being demanded by your regime and the good people of Ghana. So Goldfields Ltd should be commended for the transfer Damang Gold Mine to E&P.

So, Mr President, as your government considers the proposed mining lease’s renewal for Goldfields Ghana Ltd, I wish to also join the very grateful Chiefs and people of Huniso campaign to call for a quick renewal of the mining lease of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, in order to ensure besides supporting the development of Ghana and the host communities, the need to boost investors’ confidence in Ghana cannot be over emphasized.

Mr President, Sir, pardon me to still wish to remind you of some of the monumental historic contributions of Goldfields Ltd to the economy and to the related host communities, besides meeting the local Content and local participation policy requirements.

Mining Sector as National economic engine

Mr President, as a scholar of History, I need not to remind you very much about the serious economic downturn in the 1980s, due to the nationwide drought and bushfire, coupled with the Agege Returnees due to a policy of Ghana Must Go out of Nigeria by then ruling Administration of Nigeria.

The economic downturn situation caused the PNDC, with the support of the IMF/World Bank to come out with the Economy Recovery Programme with the associated Structural Adjusted Program. This saw the Privatization of the Mining Sector to attract Foreign Direct Investments and local investors into the Large Scale Mining Sector.

Based on this effort by the PNDC, the Goldfields Ltd and other early Multinational Mining Companies with technical expertise, logistics, funds and ready to take risks responded to Ghana’s SOS. By that they dominated the Large Scale Mining Sector in both the Underground Mining and Surface Mining areas. By that Goldfields Ltd and others, significantly contributed and are still contributing to the GDP and foreign exchange earnings, as well as in the provision of massive employment, and the development of host communities. So since 2001, Goldfields Ltd has served as one of the largest corporate tax payers, provides huge PAYE, payment of royalties, dividends, SSNIT Contributions etc.

Goldfields Ghana and other Multinational Mining Companies through the Ghana Chamber of Mines under the guidance of Alhaji Sulemana Konney, supported Ghana with 20 percent of their gold production at a discount of 0.6 percent in a gold for reserve (G4R) program, allegedly introduced by our brother from the North, in the person of Dr Bawumia in 2022 or so and thus helped in the rebooting of the economy of Ghana, effective the 2022, economic downturn.

National power grid stability

Goldfields Ltd helped VRA in rewinding and return of a generator rotor for Aboadze thermal power station, Takoradi in the 2006 power crisis. Goldfields Ltd through the Ghana Chamber of Mines under the guidance of Dr Joyce Aryee, supported Ghana during the 2006, serious national supply power problem with a dedicated Mine Reserve thermal power plant a Tema

Local Content and Local Participation

Goldfields since 2001, through her own mining model employed huge number of Ghanaians, presumably to reduce cost and later by local laws, as such, contracted Ghanaian Corporate Mining Operations Companies and other Support Service Providers for her mining operations. Among them was BCM, with our indefatigable Ghanaian Sister, namely Ms Angela Attieh formerly, as Mrs Angela List, (then as wife of Mr Paul list, so by default she became a key director or executive of BCM) owner of Nguvu Mining Ltd. BCM was contracted to mine at Terberebie at Zone 1 in 2001.

Likewise, E&P of our dear Ghanaian brother, Mr Ibrahim Mahama, was contracted to mine at Zone 2 at Akontansi in 2001. BCM was also contracted to mine at Abosso Goldfields Ltd, Damang Mine and when BCM exited in 2010, E&P was invited by Goldfields Ghana Ltd to assume as the Contract Mining Support Services Provider.

So, Mr President, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, is the vital foundation for the rise of Ms Angela Attieh and Mr Ibrahim Mahama to fabulously rich status and or prominence as business tycoons in the mining sector. To drive my point home, with a confirmation of the matter in the case of Mr Ibrahim Mahama, please sir, Google for ‘How Mr Ibrahim Mahama, a College dropped became a Billionaire’ to read his personal account made to Mr Paa Kwasi of TV3.

Goldfields Ghana thus helped in the enriching the CV of Mrs Angela List and Mr Ibrahim Mahama and the profile of their Companies especially Mr Ibrahim Mahama’s E&P. Thus made it possible for their Companies to be recognized globally and thus facilitated their operations outside Ghana and led to the expansion of their businesses.

To confirm my story, in the case of Mr Ibrahim Mahama, please sir, Google for ‘ABSA Bank finances aircraft for E&P to boost mining operation’. Mr President, this story will go a very long way to educate the public that you have no hands in the riches of Mr Ibrahim Mahama and no hands or support in the purchase of his latest private jet, as wrongly rumored by some people, especially elements of your opposing political lineage.

Mr President, through the association of E&P with Goldfields Ghana Ltd, E&P gained interest, capacity and funding to now own and operate the Damang Mine, originally operated by Goldfields Ghana Ltd, which may be part of Ghana’s policy in a Reset Agenda to see to the transfer of expertise and mining assets to qualified and capable Ghanaian Companies.

Goldfields Ghana Ltd, before 18 April 2026, had over 7000 direct employees at both the Tarkwa and Damang Mines and over ten thousands of indirect workers with 70 percent from the host communities, thus a lot of them in 24hour economy.

Goldfields Ghana Ltd also played a role in the success story of Mr William Tawiah and his Zen Petroleum Business, which currently has 64 Fuel Stations nationwide and is working very hard to add about 10 more by the end of this year. Hence, Ghana should expect more 24 hour economy projects from the stable of Zen Holdings within the year, through Mr William Tawiah and thus indirectly by Goldfields Ghana Ltd. Ghanaian Companies like Gasso Petroleum, Western Transport Services, and other Ghanaian Service Providers in catering, security, cleaning, medical etc also benefited from the operations of Goldfields Ghana Ltd.

As part of the policies of Local Content and Local Participation, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, as a key Corporate Citizen of Ghana, effective 2001, had a lot Ghanaians Staff in the workforce and in the management team, with Mr Alfred Baku, who joined as Mining Engineer in 2002, rose to the status of Executive Vice President and Head of West Africa Operations.

So, since the inception of Goldfields Ghana, Ghanaian personalities have been in the Commanding heights of Goldfields Ghana Ltd. Currently, they include Lawyer Mr Michael Edem Akafia, Vice President for External Affairs at Goldfields, for legal affairs/compliance and business operations, then Mr Elliot Twum, as Senior Vice President and MD. Next is Dr Celestina Allotey, as Vice President for Environment, Social and Governance (ESQ) Strategy, and Integration (Group), Tarkwa Mine. Ms Adelaide Arthur, Ms Emma Morrison both as media Team members.

Mr President, it is reckoned that since 2012, you have been projecting gender balance in your regime, hence you ensured a female or lady in the person of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman to be the first female Vice President of Ghana, and this is a very great history by you and her, Sir.

Sir, these fete with the first female VP of Ghana, may be aligned with the good work of Goldfields Ghana Ltd, with the appointment of the first female General Manager of a giant Mining Company in 2024 or so, in the person of our dear Northern Sister, namely Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, as the General Mine Manager of Tarkwa Mine.

Mr President, certainly, as part of your resetting agenda, you should be very happy of this great achievement of Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, the girl from the North which is regarded or reportedly behind the South, producing the first female General Mine Manager of a giant mining company, a subsidiary of global Goldfields with high standards with very huge global image. Sir, seasoned Northerners like you who understand issues very well, should be very proud of her achievements.

Thus her achievements highlights, a historic milestone for women in the mining industry and local economic leadership, which aligns with national goals of promoting women in leadership, so celebrating local expertise and acknowledging the critical role of mining sector in Ghana’s economy and not forgetting her high academic achievement, as holder of PHD should be of high interest to the number one citizen of Ghana, especially you as a New Citizen of Ghana, as postulated or required by President Nkrumah .

So, I guess with this info, as part of the Reset Agenda, you or Her Excellency Mrs Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the VP of Ghana may consider, getting your very hardworking Chief of Staff to invite Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, together with Dr Celestina Allotey who is Vice President for Environment, Social and Governance (ESQ) Strategy to your Office for an appropriate specific context, say a business roundtable, as a way of showing them to all girls, especially those in the mining enclave in order to sway them from not to be involved in Galamasey, instead to take education very serious.

As stated, this is necessary, as part of the Resetting Agenda, which among others, is a mindset revolution to change the negative narrative. So, the need to present them to all girls, especially those in the mining or minerals deposit areas and our dear North, so as to kill three or more birds with one stone of the tool on the importance of education for the girl child. By this way, besides making it possible for gender balance, would serve as a measure to reduce women in Galamasey operations, to reduce the girl from the North, as a porters (girls in kaya yeh or load carriers or hawkers) etc in the South.

It is envisaged by this, Ghana would be motivating girls from the mining enclaves, especially areas of Goldfields Ghana Ltd to take the advantage of the Scholarships by Goldfields Foundation for them to earn skills or qualification to occupy key positions in the global Mining Sector. That is if they cannot achieve the honor/luck of Ms Angela Attieh (formerly Mrs Angela List), as owner of both a Mining Contracting Company and Gold Mines in three Countries, including Ghana (with Adamus or Nzima Gold Mine and Northern Ashanti Gold Mine, Konongo).

Goldfields Ltd, has therefore made Ghana very proud in the social front with Mr Ibrahim Mahama, Ms Angela Attieh, Mr William Tawiah, Dr Catherine Kuutor and others and thus deserved to be still in the Ghana’s mining landscape to be promoting the course of Ghana. So Goldfields Ltd is a temporary tertiary institution in Ghana to help produce expertise with Goldfields Ltd, with global image, as the Reference institution. .

Community Synergy

Mr President, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, as a very good Corporate Citizen, hence with patriotism spirit, so by her own mining model, thus without compelling obligations, was the first Large Scale Mining Company to set up a Foundation as Goldfields Foundation in 2001. Since then, it has become a vital foundation for socioeconomic development of the host communities.

Sir, Mr President, since 2001, the Foundation operations continue to drive value in local communities for tangibly improving local standards by funding education, water and sanitation projects, health projects, sports including 15 million US Dollars to the Ghana Black star in 2006 for both the African and World Cups and recently with 5 million US Dollars for the development of sports.

Some of the visible infrastructures built or renovated by Goldfields Ghana Ltd, include schools, water and sanitation projects in her enclaves, a Hospital in her Tarkwa mine yard, the expansion of the Tarkwa Government Hospital, this was done with 17 Million US Dollars. Goldfields Ghana Ltd, tarred Tarkwa to Damang road, and rehabilitated the T&A Stadium at Tarkwa with about 17 Million US Dollars. The reasonable cost you mentioned or happy with, when exposing the deep rooted corruption in our DNA. So we need Goldfields Ghana with her ethical Standard to inculcate in some of our Nationals and as a Benchmark in our fight against corruption.

Mr President, I know how you are very much interested in seeing the modernization and transformation of the Agriculture Sector for the improvement of the Economics fundamentals of Ghana, especially as a measure for import substitution and feed Ghana both human citizens and relevant Corporate Citizens or agro-industries. So you may wish to know, Goldfields Ghana Ltd’s effort in promoting the Agricultural Sector, besides as food security to promote Alternative Livelihood to mining.

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Consequently, Mr President, you are hereby informed that the forward looking with sustainability inclination and human interest or centered Goldfields Ghana Ltd, with the mantra of people matter first, due to her safety policy of ‘if it is not safe, Goldfields Ghana Ltd will not mine, has included Agric Projects especially Oil Palm Plantation projects and supporting the Cocoa industry as part of providing sustainable employment for host communities..

So Goldfields Ghana Ltd has been encouraging and supporting the people in her enclaves to undertake viable Agric Projects, so high yielding tenera oil palm seedlings , fertilizers and other inputs are supplied to farmers with the provision of good Agric extension services at free of charge.

Mr President, it may be of interest to you to learn that this idea of Oil Palm Plantation in the Mining Sector was borrowed from the Military, especially from 2BN Takoradi, where due to the good work of thinking outside the box by one Major Mike Akaptsu (now retired Brigadier General Mike Akaptsu) and Major Mohammed Bogobiri, this writer, in 2000, introduced the Oil Palm Project in the Military, especially in 2BN Takoradi to secure the land of the Unit as well as source of income or food items for troops .

This noble idea was bought by Dr Addo Kofour, the then Minister of Defence,, through his then Military Adviser, then Col OB Akwa, (now His Excellency General OB Akwa, former Army Commander, former CDS and former Ambassador to Egypt). So the Minister supplied seedlings of Oil Palm and mangoes seedlings to units of the Military to help secure their lands, protect the environment/beautification or greening and as an assurance for sustainable internal income generation.

This idea of Oil Palm as sustainable Alternative Livelihood Project was sold in 2006 or 2007 or so by now retired Major Mohammed Bogobiri, this writer, indirectly to the Ghana Chamber of Mines with the help of video clips from one Mr William Mason, then a Safety Officer of Bogoso Mine, to Mrs Mary Ankomah (now Hon Mrs Mary Ankomah, as former Hon MP of Daboase, on the ticket of the PPP of Dr Ndoum).

She was then a Director of NGO, which worked with Golden Star Resources and supplied medical equipment from USA to hospitals/clinics and needed persons in the enclaves of the subsidiary Companies of the Company namely Wassa Mine and Bogoso Mine.

Armed with this intelligence, Mrs Mary Ankomah, sold the idea to the CEO of Golden Star Resources and this earned her the post of Group Community and Sustainability Manager of Golden Star Resources Ghana Ltd. So, Goldfields Ghana Ltd and other Companies emulated the shining example of Golden Star Resources Ghana Ltd.

Women in Leadership in mining Sector

Goldfields Ghana Ltd has helped to produce women in Leadership in the mining operations Sector. Notably by indirect means, by contract mining system is Mrs Angela list’s rise to prominence, by default, as tied to the operations of BCM contracts with Goldfields Ghana Ltd.

We also have Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor with pure Ghanaian DNA, as the first female General Mine Manager of a Gold Mine of Goldfields Ghana Ltd. Likewise, Dr Celestina Allotey, as Vice President for Environment, Social and Governance (ESQ) Strategy. Thus with Dr Celestina Allotey, Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor and others, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, has demo true inclusivity social growth, with the female employment in key roles.

Recommended New Vision

His Excellency, Dear President Mahama, we heard you saying in an investment drive summit in UK that, Ghana needs strategic partners and not sympathy. So, whilst acknowledging, the monumental historic contribution of Goldfields to the economy and host communities, nevertheless, it is recommended that to secure a prosperous future, the recommended new renewal of the lease should not be business as usual. So, the below mentioned differences or additions or deepening of the support to the economy and development of host communities, should be considered on the table by both parties.

a.. Vital Ghanaian equity and control by raising local ownership:

Both parties to see to the Trading in the Ghana Stock Market, by Goldfields Ghana Ltd, for Ghanaians nationwide to gain from their resources as provided at Clause 6 of Article 257 of the Constitution. Parties should consider the moving beyond profit sharing to ensure effective local participation in strategic mining operations.

Mining operations need massive funding for operations, administration and logistics requirement hence for both Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operations Expenditure (OPEX) and the associated extensive insurance cover, among others, for exploration, exploitation, environmental issues including reclamations, and due to likely mining business catastrophic, makes Large Scale Mining to entail very expensive insurance cover for including political risk cover.

Hence the Multinationals Mining Companies, like Goldfields Ltd usual have adequate and flexible source of Funding for future exploration or have the capacity for reinvesting capital into Greenfields and brownfields explorations, in order to secure new gold reserves and extend the life of mining operations.

This is so, due to their complex or multiple or mixed Shareholders, since they are listed in reputable Stock Exchange Market, like the New York Stock Exchange Market. Hence, they are in a better position to attract sufficient funds, logistics and expertise, unlike the single corporate owner or rather two owners of Ghanaian Mining Companies, just to meet legal requirements but may really be Single owners, in operations. So, what will be the situation with the death of the daily face or the erratic decision maker of the Ghanaian Companies?. Food for thought.

One of our great ancestors, namely Dr Kwagir Aggrey, ever said that for a good melody, there was the need for the black and white keys of a piano. So for effectiveness in the Large Scale Mining Sector, Ghana needs foreign participation in the Large Scale Mining Sector, due to the hidden fears associated with Ms Angela List and her Nguvu Gold Ltd or Mr Ibrahim Mahama and his E&P or Mr Kwasi Ofori, with his Rocksure International.

So Sir, it is recommended that Ghana should not put all her eggs in one basket. Goldfields Ghana Ltd, so far, has demo as a very good Corporate Citizen of Ghana. So please, Sir, renew her lease, but get Goldfields Ltd which DNA allows for merging or partnership to cooperate with local companies like Rocksure International or E&P or Nguvu Gold Ltd or Ofori-Opoku Ltd (this Company is doing wonders at GBC Awaso Bauxite) by demanding Technology and skill transfer, by accelerated training and placement of Ghanaian professionals into top-tier management and ethical roles.

b. Aggressive Community Development

Mr President, Ghana should tie or link the renewal with the recommended transformative conditions, to help protect the thousands of jobs add more jobs, ensure economic stability in the Catchment areas whilst seeing to Ghana or Ghanaians get maximum long term value from our God-given resources

Other related matters

The claim that, the Mining Rights of Goldfields Ghana Company Ghanaian Company jointly owned by Goldfields Ltd and others should not be renewed due to the xenophobic attack of Ghanaians, in South Africa is ungodly. This so, since Goldfields Ltd has a character of an internationally trading publicly listed company by trading both in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Sir, only 24 percent of the Shareholding of global Goldfields Ltd, with Head Office in Johannesburg is held by shareholders in South Africa and this may include some Ghanaians with dual citizenships. The remaining 76% shareholders are found globally thus include Ghanaians, other Africans, Americans/British like with Citi Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of New York, Canadians etc.

Sir, the Company asking for renewal of Mining Lease, is not the global Goldfields Ltd, it is rather the local Ghanaian, Goldfields Ghana Ltd, hence a Corporate Citizen of Ghana, with the equity held as follows; (a) Iam Gold of Canada 18.9% . (b) Global Goldfields Ltd, 71.1%, both with liability and (c). The Ghana Government, with her usual 10 percent carried interest hence no liability. Ghana by law has the option to increase her equity in the stake, this may be done by the State or by using a private Ghanaian Company like Rocksure International or Heath Goldfields or E&P.

Mr President, as you are fully aware of that Goldfields Ghana Ltd’s, Head Office is in Accra, hence, a Corporate Citizen of Ghana, with a local Board, with Ghanaian Management Team. Which has members like Lawyer Michael Edem Akafia, Vice President for External Affairs at Goldfields, for legal affairs/compliance and business operations, then Mr Elliot Twum, as Senior Vice President/MD. Next is Dr Celestina Allotey, as Vice President for Environment, Social and Governance (ESQ) Strategy and Dr Catherine Kuutor as the General Manager, and others in the Commanding heights.

So the wrong suggestion not to extend the mining rights, may rather hurt Ghana, which needs Goldfields Ltd as a shareholder to showcase Investors Confidence by ensuring Creditability, Policy Consistency, issue of Predictability and adherence to the rule of the law.

Conclusion.

Mr President, based on the monumental historic contributions of Goldfields Ghana Ltd to the economy and development of host communities, as well as developing local capacity and supporting local participation through the use of E&P and other Ghanaian Companies as Support Service Providers: It is recommended that to secure a prosperous future, the new renewal of mining lease of Goldfields Ghana Ltd and others, should not be business as usual. So, need to ensure Vital Ghanaian equity and control by raising local ownership, by transfer of Technology and skill, by accelerated training and placement of Ghanaian professionals into top-tier management and ethical roles and finally to ensure Aggressive Community Development.