The Apinto Divisional Council, the traditional owners of the lands hosting Gold Fields Ghana Limited’s Tarkwa Mine and AngloGold Ashanti’s Iduapriem Mine, has accused multinational mining companies of failing to deliver meaningful development to host communities despite decades of mineral extraction.
The Council disclosed that a recent assessment of operations at the Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine revealed that more than 4,000 hectares of Apinto lands had been degraded, with devastating consequences for livelihoods, farmlands and the surface rights of indigenous residents.
The concerns were raised at a press conference in Tarkwa last week, where the Council unveiled the Apinto Shared Prosperity Proposal, a framework advocating the establishment of a government-owned mining operation in Tarkwa that would guarantee host communities a direct stake in the ownership, governance and benefits of mining activities.
According to the Council, the proposal seeks to replace the existing model, which relies largely on royalties and corporate social responsibility projects, with a partnership involving government, investors and host communities.
Addressing the media, the Gyasehene of the Apinto Divisional Council, Dr Nana Adarkwa Bediako III, said the proposal was founded on the principles of “history, justice, equity and sustainable development.”
He said communities whose ancestral lands had sustained mining activities for generations deserved to become genuine partners in the exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.
“The next phase of mining in the Tarkwa-Apinto area must move beyond royalties and corporate social responsibility projects towards a genuine partnership among the Government, investors, and host communities,” he said.
Dr Bediako disclosed that the proposal would be submitted to the Government, Parliament, the Minerals Commission and other relevant stakeholders for consideration.
He argued that the proposed Ghanaian-owned mining operation would enable the country to maximise the value of its mineral resources while addressing longstanding concerns about the limited benefits accruing to mining communities.
“Our proposal to the Government of Ghana seeks not charity, but fairness. It presents a practical model that balances national interests, investor confidence and meaningful community participation,” he stated.
The Council lamented that despite decades of mining by multinational companies, including Gold Fields Ghana Limited and AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, communities within the Tarkwa-Apinto area had seen little development commensurate with the scale of mining operations.
Dr Bediako identified land degradation, inadequate infrastructure, limited economic opportunities and rising youth unemployment among the major challenges confronting host communities.
He said the Council’s recent assessment of the Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine found that more than 4,000 hectares of Apinto lands had been degraded, severely affecting livelihoods, agricultural activities and the surface rights of indigenous landowners.
The Council believes its proposed model would create a more inclusive mining framework in which communities become active participants in, and beneficiaries of, the wealth generated from their lands.
“Our message is simple: A mine that generates wealth from the lands of Apinto must also create lasting prosperity and sustainable development for the people of Apinto,” Dr Bediako said.
The Council expressed confidence that adopting the Apinto Shared Prosperity Proposal would usher in a new era of responsible and sustainable mining that balances national economic interests with the development aspirations of host communities.
