Goldfields Rejects Claims Of Neglect In Tarkwa Communities

The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) has strongly rejected allegations that it has failed to undertake meaningful corporate social responsibility projects in its host communities around Tarkwa, describing the claims as inaccurate and disconnected from realities on the ground.

The rebuttal comes amid growing public debate over the future of the Gold Fields Ghana Tarkwa mine lease, which expires in April 2027. While civil  groups including the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)and some individuals have urged government not to renew the lease, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has cautioned that any move to deny renewal could undermine investor confidence in Ghana’s mining sector.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, said the recent accusations circulating in sections of the media came as a surprise to the Foundation.

“The comments recently in the media that Gold Fields in Tarkwa has not been implementing any corporate social responsibility programmes are simply not factual,” he said.

According to him, the criticism stems largely from a lack of awareness of projects undertaken by the foundation across its host communities. “We have done a lot of publicity around what we do, but we do not want to spend money meant for community development on excessive public relations,” he said adding, “That may be why some people have not heard about us.”

Executive secretary Abdel Razak Yakubu argued that the impact of the Foundation’s work extends beyond visible infrastructure projects, pointing to healthcare outreach programmes and economic opportunities created through investments linked to mining activities.

“If we do a medical outreach and save two lives, it is difficult years later to bring those people before cameras to testify. Human dignity matters and it is not appropriate for a multinational company to constantly parade beneficiaries for publicity,” he said.

The Foundation Executive Secretary disclosed that Gold Fields had invested more than $110 million in development initiatives across sectors including roads, education, healthcare and community livelihoods.

Among the flagship projects cited was the construction of the Nana Angu bypass road, an intervention he said has significantly reduced traffic congestion in Tarkwa.

“The traffic situation in Tarkwa is very serious, but for the intervention of Gold Fields through the Foundation, it would have been worse,” Yakubu noted.

He also referenced the ongoing construction of the Budo Junction to Bogoso Junction road, as well as the rehabilitation of the 19km Awudua Junction to Awudua road, which he said was completed nearly a decade ago under the Foundation.

On education, Razak Yakubu highlighted the construction of a 360-bed dormitory facility for girls at Hunni-Valley Senior High Technical School, aimed at supporting female students in the area. “With about 68 percent of the student population being girls, Gold Fields identified the need and stepped in to provide accommodation,” he explained.

Yakubu further stressed that the benefits of mining activities should not only be measured through infrastructure, but also through the livelihoods created for ordinary residents.

He cited economic activity generated during football matches in Tarkwa, where local food and water vendors reportedly experienced shortages due to increased demand.

Gold Fields in 2024 constructed the Tarkwa and Aboso Stadium as part of its corporate social responsibility. The 16.2 million dollar stadium, with an 8400 seats capacity is home to local premiere league side Medeama SC.

“To a woman selling water at the stadium, that is a livelihood created because of the presence of mining,” he said.

The Foundation encouraged journalists and members of the public to engage directly with beneficiary communities to assess the impact of its projects rather than relying on what it describes as politically charged commentary in urban media discussions.

The debate over the future of the Tarkwa mine lease is expected to intensify in the coming months as government weighs competing concerns over local development, environmental stewardship and investor confidence in one of Ghana’s most strategic economic sectors.

 

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