Calls are growing for the John Mahama administration not to renew the current mining lease for Goldfields after it expires.
The South African company, has been mining in Ghana for over 30 years but it contract at Tarkwa in the Western Region will expire in 2027.
“We are not going to give up in any way on Tarkwa. In November last year, we submitted a leave extension for the Tarkwa Mine, which would give us…another 20 years of mining at Tarkwa”, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goldfields, Mike Fraser.
One year to the end of the expiration of the lease, the company has expressed the desire to stay and mine more gold but some Ghanaians are having none of that.
First to raise object the renewal was the former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo using the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) platform.
The calls have however intensified following months of xenophobic attacks as the South African government looks on while other nationals are brutalized and arrested.
The youth, who have been going on rampage have given 30 May deadline for all Africans to leave their country or face their wrath.
Ghana took the initiative to bring it citizens who asked for voluntary repatriation by chartering an Ethiopian flight to evacuate the first batch of 800 Ghanaians.
The Ghanaians number 297 arrived home on Wednesday, May 27 with the next batches slated for the days ahead.
President Mahama has already given a hint of what is likely to happen when the time comes for the renewal. He said this particular renewal is not going to be business as usual saying ruling out automatic lease renewal for the company but Ghanaians want more than that.
Ahead of that exercise and in the wake of the xenophobic attacks many Ghanaians have called on the administration not to even renew the lease at all.
Leading the charge is the President of policy think tank, IMANI-Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, who has been asking what the position of Goldfields on these attacks?
The outspoken social commentator is concerned why the company has remained mute at this critical time when back home the country is driving all Africans out of their jurisdiction. In a series of posts, Cudjoe demanded to know if Goldfields has condemned attacks or it does not care.
Turning his attention on Ghana, Cudjoe asked the government not to give the mines to Goldfields going forward. He also expressed horror at the videos coming in. “The latest videos I’ve seen from South Africa are too horrible to share. No one in Ghana should attack any South African—no insults, no physical harm.
However, Mr President, please do not renew the mining lease fir the South African company. Sorry, Goldfields, but this is the least we can demand for now, given the murderous crimes your compatriots back home have committed against Ghanaians and other Africans. Sadly, you have not issued any statements condemning the attacks”.
Earlier, he posted this “Has anyone seen a statement from Goldfields condemning the carnage in South Africa? Until then Mr President, Honourable Buah, please do not renew the lease. CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) Eric Adjei has
Lawyer and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwasi Kwarteng has also expressed the desire for Ghana to give the Tarkwa mine to a Ghanaian company even if it is that of the younger brother of the President, Ibrahim Mahama. “Perhaps government should consider warding the Goldfields mining concession to Engineers &Planners, rather than a foreign entity whose home country continue to treat our citizens with disrespect and indignity”, he said.
Earlier, NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mpreaso constituency, Davis Opoku made his voice head urging the government not to renew the lease as a retaliatory measure against the attacks on Ghanaians and Africans.
Communications director for the United Party (UP) has put the renewal of the lease side by side to the next election. Solomon Owusu said the contract of Goldfields must necessary not be renewed no matter and if the government does not listen, it will be used against the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Owusu who started the campaign more than a month ago said “there must be a tit-for-tat”.
“By the way, our decision not to renew gold-face license is non-negotiable. It will be part of the election 2020 campaign. I’m telling you.
So, Goldfields Ghana or whatever they might be doing, they must begin to park. Because the people of this country, the youth will rise up. It’s not going to be business as usual.
Remember, you cannot sack Ghanaians, you cannot let them leave your country, leave their businesses there. And really, because of diplomacy on the author of some web called Diplomacy, allows South Africans to be doing businesses here comfortably”, he said on the Joynews channel.
He praised government for the initiative to bring it citizens home and singled out for praise Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Anani Quarhie for boldly speaking out and standing up to the SA government.
“I also doff my hat for the High Commissioner of Ghana to South Africa, even on South African land he was bold to tell them that you are molesting our people, you are attacking them. He didn’t waiver, he didn’t shake he stood for the principle and I doff my hat for him. I like people who will confront because at that material time he saw reality and as a human you must always confront reality and don’t give it any other name.
But he disagreed with Quashie’s assertion that Ghana has no diplomatic brawl with SA.
“That’s a lie, that is total falsehood, we have if he doesn’t have we have. Because the sovereignty of this country resides in the people under Article 1. The aspiration of Ghanaians is for them to live up to our expectations. Nobody can say at this moment that we are cool with South Africa. That is why a couple of days ago when the president was giving visa waiver he said all 54 African countries I disagreed with him. It has to be 53 minus South Africa”, he said.
Social media has been buzzing with endless calls to the government to do the right thing by ending the contract agreement.
Controversial social media user, Albert Hyde alias Bongo Ideas has also joined the chorus prevailing on the government not to do the mistake of allowing Goldfields to operate in Ghana.
“DO NOT RENEW GOLDFIELDS LEASE
If South Africans would not respect Ghanaians in their country, they have no business in this country. We would hit the streets! You can’t treat us like this and still wanna mine our gold
Ghana is capable of managing its own affairs. Whether xenophobic attack or now, the lease is not gonna be renewed. We have capable local people to do the job! Mmmoaaaa!”
Social media pressure group FixTheCountry has also cautioned government with it campaign “No license renewal for Goldfields Ltd”. The group said it is time Ghana prioritize greater local participation and domestication in Ghana’s mining sector.
“Ghana belongs to Ghanaians. Let us build a stronger and more prosperous nation together”. They have hinted a demonstration in the coming days.
By Gifty Boateng