The Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, has called on government not to renew the mining lease of Gold Fields for the Tarkwa mine, citing recent xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians in South Africa as part of the basis for his position.

In a post shared on X on May 27, 2026, Adjei referenced reported xenophobic attacks targeting Ghanaians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, arguing that Ghana should prioritise local companies in the management of its natural resources.

“To Ghanaians coming home because of the xenophobic racism, we love you all. But to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources: please do not renew the mining lease for Gold Fields Tarkwa. We are hearing that it is a South African company. We need local companies to work for us as citizens,” he wrote.

He tagged Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, in the post.

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The comments come amid growing public debate over the future of Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mining lease, which is expected to expire in 2027.

Meanwhile, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team, Eric Twum, has also called on African countries to suspend economic and commercial engagements with South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.

According to him, repeated attacks on foreign nationals living and working in South Africa are not only alarming but also threaten the vision of African unity and cooperation.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Twum said the recurring incidents undermine regional integration efforts, particularly at a time when African countries are seeking to deepen trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“The South African government is not taking the issue seriously, and I think that for us as a people and the rest of Africa, we need to be very clear in our minds so that this thing does not fester.

“We should stop going there, stop buying their products, stop taking their flights and stop dealing with them so that they can feel the pinch,” he said.

He argued that such measures would send a strong message to South African authorities and compel stronger action against xenophobic violence.

Meanwhile, Ghana has also formally petitioned the African Union to place the issue of recurring attacks on African nationals in South Africa on the agenda of the upcoming Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.

To Ghanaians coming home because of the xenophobic racism, we love you all. But to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources: please do not renew the mining lease for Gold Fields Tarkwa. We are hearing that it is a South African company. We need local companies to work for us…

— Eric Adjei. (@EricAdjei_) May 27, 2026