Several Ghanaians have expressed strong opposition to the renewal of the mining lease for Gold Fields’ Tarkwa Mine, following recent xenophobic attacks against Ghanaian nationals living in South Africa.

The development comes after the government evacuated 300 Ghanaians from South Africa amid fears of further attacks by South African nationals.

Notable personalities who have spoken against the renewal include legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor, policy analyst Kofi Bentil, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, and New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator Eric Twum, among others.

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1. Barker-Vormawor

Oliver Barker-Vormawor has argued that the government should consider reciprocal economic or regulatory measures against South African-owned companies such as Gold Fields, MTN, and DStv, in response to the treatment of Ghanaians in South Africa.

“If we don’t take away the Goldfields mines, MTN, and DSTV from the South Africans, how can we fix our country too, so our citizens don’t go there and suffer? 2 can play that game!” he wrote.

2. Kofi Bentil

Kofi Bentil also echoed concerns about Ghana’s response, noting that the country has not taken broad retaliatory action against South African businesses such as MTN, DStv, and Shoprite despite the alleged mistreatment of Ghanaians in South Africa.

He described the opposition to the Gold Fields lease renewal as a limited and measured response rather than a full-scale escalation.

“Make no mistake, Ghana is not retaliating in the same measure! We have not sacked MTN, DSTV, or SHOPRITE yet.. although SA citizens are oppressing us. The resistance against Goldfields lease is just a small and reasonable response. #DontRenewGoldfieldsLease,” he wrote on Facebook.

3. Eric Adjei

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, has also called on the 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.

4. Eric Twum

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).

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“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.

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