After 30 years of hosting one of Ghana’s most prominent gold mining companies, Gold Fields Ghana Ltd., the youth of Damang say they finally feel heard, as news spreads that the government has refused to renew the company’s mining lease.
“You cannot be in a town for three decades and leave it looking abandoned,” said Emmanuel Afful, Convener of the Concerned Youth of the Damang Catchment Area.
“There’s no hospital, no functional water systems in some communities, and the same dusty, pothole-ridden roads,” he added.
For many residents, the government’s decision is being hailed as long-overdue justice. The youth insist they are not against mining itself, but they demand development in return—something they believe Gold Fields Ghana failed to provide.
“Compare Damang to Kenyasi or Akyem, where other mining companies have built hospitals and better infrastructure,” Afful said.
“Three decades should have transformed Damang, but instead, we got neglect.”
The Concerned Youth group has commended the government for taking a bold stand and urged leaders to resist any pressure to reverse the decision.
They believe it marks a turning point in the call for accountability and real development in mining communities.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Kofi Armah-Buah has explained the government’s decision to reject the renewal of Gold Fields’ mining lease for the Damang Mine.
According to him, the company failed to meet the necessary renewal requirements, prompting the government’s decision.
This clarification comes after several industry players called on the government to provide a categorical explanation for the rejection of Gold Fields’ lease after 30 years of operation.
The company’s current lease is set to expire on April 18, 2025.
Speaking at a press conference on April 16, 2025, the minister said, “Gold Fields has failed to allocate any budget for exploration at Damang for the past two years. In essence, the company was not prepared, as required by law, to expend resources on exploration activities to discover new ore bodies or convert existing mineral resources into mineral reserves to support a mining program or operation.
“This lack of investment raises serious concerns about the company’s commitment to sustainable mining practices and the long-term viability of this particular mine,” he stated.
