Prestea Mining Lease Granted to Golden Star

Golden Star Resources Ltd. ("Golden Star") is pleased to announce that the Republic of Ghana, acting through the Minister for Lands, Forests and Mines on July 6, 2001 granted a mining lease over the Prestea Property in Ghana to Golden Star. The mining lease, which is for a period of 30 years, grants Golden Star the right to mine the surface of the Prestea Property to a depth of 200 vertical metres.

Peter Bradford, President and CEO of Golden Star stated: "the grant of the mining lease to Golden Star is considered a significant milestone in the finalization of the transactions to access the Prestea surface mineralized material. Golden Star's access is now only subject to the formal simultaneous closing of the separate arrangements with Barnato Exploration Limited ('Barnex') and Prestea Gold Resources Limited ('PGR') which is expected to occur in mid-August 2001 as well as environmental permitting for the area to be mined at Prestea."

The arrangements with Barnex are primarily subject to South African Reserve Bank approval and the approval of its shareholders. Western Areas Limited, which owns approximately 89% of Barnex, has indicated that it will vote in favor of the transaction. At closing, Golden Star will issue 3,333,333 common shares and 1,333,333 warrants to subscribe for Golden Star common shares at a price of US$0.70 for three years. In addition, Golden Star will pay a royalty to Barnex on the first 1,000,000 ounces produced at Bogoso/Prestea after closing. The royalty will vary, according to a gold price formula from a minimum of $6.00 per ounce at gold prices less than $260 per ounce to a maximum of $16.80 per ounce at gold prices at or above $340 per ounce.

The commercial arrangements with PGR are subject to the finalization of definitive documentation and the closing of the agreements with Barnex. At closing, Golden Star will pay $2.1 million in cash to PGR of which $0.5 million has already been advanced to PGR. Golden Star will then have the option until 180 days after closing to acquire a 35% interest in the underground operations of PGR by the payment of a further $1.9 million to PGR. The mining rights below a depth of 200 vertical metres were granted to PGR in a separate mining lease granted by the Minister at the same signing ceremony.

Golden Star holds a 70% equity interest (and subject to Ghana Government approval is acquiring an additional 20% interest) in the Bogoso gold mine in Ghana, a 30% equity interest in the Omai gold mine in Guyana, and a 50% interest in the Gross Rosebel gold project in Suriname. In addition, the Company has other gold and diamond exploration interests in the Guiana Shield in South America and in West Africa. Golden Star currently has approximately 41 million shares outstanding. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "GSC" and trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "GSRSF". TEL: 303-894-4613 Peter Bradford, President and CEO TEL: 303-894-4631 Allan Marter, Chief Financial Officer TEL: 800-553-8436 Golden Star Resources Ltd.