Goldfields Ghana Limited (Tarkwa Mines) has raised serious concerns regarding the safety and security of its concessions, citing a disturbing trend of illegal encroachment by groups claiming to be engaged in “cooperative mining.”
The company warns that these activities, particularly in the Badukrom and Wangarakrom areas, are not only unlawful but are increasingly being facilitated by armed individuals, posing a significant risk to community safety and operational stability.
The issue came to the fore during a familiarization visit by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, to the Tarkwa Mines on Thursday, September 17.
Speaking during the visit, Mr. Isaac Samani, the Head of Protection Services Manager for Goldfields Ghana Tarkwa Mines, outlined the operational challenges the company faces despite its strict adherence to international security protocols.
He emphasized that Goldfields conducts its operations under the guidance of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, a framework that distinguishes its conduct from other mining incidents in the region that have resulted in fatalities.
“We conduct our operations under the directions of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. That’s the reason why you may have heard from other mines incidents involving soldiers, police, and community members—shootings and all of that, fatalities,” Mr. Samani stated. “You haven’t heard that from our mine because of the rules of engagement we have put in place.”
However, Mr. Samani revealed that this disciplined approach is being severely tested by organized encroachers. He cited a specific incident involving two host communities, Badukrom and Wangarakrom, where a group unlawfully appropriated part of the mining tenement.
“Around two of our host communities we have Badukrom and Wangarakrom, one of these groups have encroached. They sent an excavator and a bulldozer there, unlawfully appropriated that part of the tenement to themselves, claiming it’s a cooperative mine,” he said.
According to Mr. Samani, the company did not receive any formal notification or documentation regarding this land for such activities. The scale of the initial encroachment overwhelmed the on-site security detail.
“We have a team of police officers on site who help us conduct our operations. But the scale was huge… we couldn’t have relied on the twenty or so police men we have on site. So, we quickly called the Regional Police Commander, and he supported us with police officers from the region, and we were able to clear them from the place.”
Despite this initial success, Mr. Samani disclosed that the encroachers have adopted a more dangerous strategy.
“Then, they came up with a new strategy: operating at night. For… and they do this with the protection of armed macho men, militia-like bandits who are armed,” he warned.
The Protection Services Manager expressed deep concern over the potential for violent escalation. He noted that while police officers have the right to self-defense under the Voluntary Principles, the company is desperate to avoid a tragedy.
“My worry is that, obviously, if the policeman feels threatened… he has a right to self-defense. But we don’t want anything untoward to happen, so we continue to dialogue so that there wouldn’t be any escalation that would result in the exchange of gunfire and potential fatalities,” he said.
Mr. Samani reiterated that Goldfields has no legal right to cede any part of its concession to individuals without due process. He called for the support of the Regional Minister and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) to address the situation decisively.
Responding to the concerns raised, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson clarified the government’s position on cooperative mining, emphasizing that the activities described by Mr. Samani are illegal and do not follow the established legal framework.
The Minister explained that while the Ministry has rolled out a policy for cooperative mining, it is a highly regulated process, not a free-for-all.
“There’s supposed to be cooperative mining happening, because the ministry has come out with that policy. But it’s not implemented the way these guys… have done. It has a roadmap. It goes through a process for any place to be declared a cooperative mining site,” Hon. Nelson stated.
He stressed that individuals cannot arrogate to themselves the right to declare a site a cooperative mining zone.
“It’s not for individuals to go arrogate to themselves any place and say that this is a cooperative mining site. No, no, no, that’s not how it works. And so this example you cited has nothing to do with cooperative mining, per how the ministry has structured it.”
The Regional Minister advised Goldfields to deal with the encroachers “head-on” using the systems they have designed to protect their concession.
“There’s an office under that ministry that will look at proposals, go to site, check, make sure that the place is fit for whatever it is they want to do, and then finally give approval with a certain structure in place. And so, I know of a few that are still being considered, but that place certainly is not one of them.”
Hon. Nelson concluded by affirming the company’s rights over its concession, stating, “And once it’s your site, it cannot be done without your consent, basically. So it’s a no-no-no when people go to your site and want to do their own things when they have not gone through any process to certify their operations.”
The Regional Minister assured the management of Goldfields that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) would take the necessary steps to support the company in maintaining law and order within its operational area.
By Ebenezer Atiemo
