Former Chief Justice and IEA fellow Sophia Akuffo has stated that Ghana has the skilled workforce and know-how to run the Tarkwa mine on its own, without depending on overseas mining firms.
Her remarks follow Gold Fields’ application for a 20-year renewal of its Tarkwa lease, which expires in 2027. As of May 2026, talks between the company and the Ghanaian government were underway to decide whether to extend the agreement or phase out operations.
Sophia Akuffo noted that after over 30 years of extraction at Tarkwa, surrounding communities have not seen development benefits matching the scale of activity, while the firm continues to make large profits.
She also raised concerns about the country’s earnings from major mining projects, arguing that the state receives a small share compared to the substantial value captured by multinational operators.
She further stated that Ghana now has enough qualified mining experts to handle the industry effectively without foreign operators. “Ghana, today, possesses a highly experienced pool of mining professionals with technical expertise and operational competence to be able to operate the Tarkwa mine successfully should the government deny the Goldfields lease extension.
They can manage, not only the Tarkwa mines but also every mine in this country,” she said. She highlighted the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) as a leading institution that has produced globally recognised engineers and mining specialists for decades, many of whom work both at home and abroad.
“Over the past six decades, UMaT has trained internationally certified engineers and other skilled personnel who continue to distinguish themselves globally,” she added.
She also pointed to the growing involvement of Ghanaian companies in direct mining work, saying local firms are already carrying out extraction tasks for foreign concession holders.
“Many large mining companies are already being managed by local firms such as Engineers and Planners, HeathGold field and others on behalf of the foreign mining concessioners,” she said.
Sophia Akuffo insisted that most of the day-to-day mining functions at Tarkwa are already performed by Ghanaian experts, strengthening her view that local capability is adequate to manage the mine independently.
