Prestea: Some residents and miners of Prestea Huni Valley in the Western Region are expressing dissatisfaction over the President’s decision not to appoint an indigene as the head of Sankofa Gold Limited. They believe that appointing a Managing Director from outside the constituency could negatively impact the government’s standing in future elections.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by 13 party members from the constituency emphasized the critical role local miners play, supplying approximately 85 to 90 percent of the raw materials used by the company. The statement suggested that the decision to appoint an outsider could lead to unrest, with residents threatening to halt the supply of tailings and block trucks from transporting materials through their communities.
The residents further argued that Prestea Huni Valley’s significant contribution to the NDC’s electoral success in the region warranted the appointment of a local figure, describing it as a missed opportunity to reward local loyalty. The appointment of Alhaji Ishaque Dauda, son of Mr. Collins Dauda, as the new Managing Director has been met with opposition. Residents highlighted that similar decisions in the past have led to electoral losses for previous governments in the constituency.
Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited, a state-owned enterprise established in 1994 to extract gold from old tailings, was shut down in 2014, affecting local commerce and livelihoods. Under former President Nana Akufo Addo, efforts were made to rejuvenate the company, culminating in its operational restart in 2018 under the oversight of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). Despite these efforts, the current leadership choice remains contentious among local stakeholders.