Damang, Western Region – After 30 years of mining in the heart of Damang, Goldfields Ghana Ltd. is set to exit following the government’s decision not to renew its lease. While the company claims shock and disappointment, the youth of Damang say the real shock is how little has been left behind after three decades of extraction.

“Three decades. That’s a whole generation,” said Emmanuel Afful, Convener of the Concerned Youth of the Damang Catchment Area. “And yet we have no hospital, no clean water systems in some resettled communities, poor roads, and a long-standing memory of betrayal.”

Perhaps the most painful memory for many is the mass dismissal of over 1,200 employees by Goldfields years ago—many of them local residents who were sent home without severance packages or sustainable exit support.

“They didn’t just dismiss people; they destroyed livelihoods,” said Alex K. Aidoo. “It was one of the most ruthless retrenchments in the history of this community. The emotional and economic damage is still visible today.”

The youth argue that Goldfields’ long history in Damang should have made it a pillar of development and inclusion, but instead, it became a symbol of broken promises.

From the failed commitments under the 2015 Stability Agreement—such as incomplete roads and the absence of a promised hospital—to the disproportionate employment of outsiders in key roles, frustration has only deepened with time.

“Thirty years of mining. But ask any local how many of us were given proper jobs, not casual work through contractors, but real career opportunities,” said Francis Mensah. “We were used. That’s the truth.”

With the lease now rejected, the youth believe a new chapter must begin—one that centres local content, community mining, and Ghanaian ownership.

“Enough is enough. We want a Ghanaian company that respects the land, employs its people, and invests in its future,” said Eric Garibor.

“We are not just celebrating the end of Goldfields’ lease. We are calling for a new era of responsible mining.”