Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) has extended its impactful Cocoa Farmers Support Programme to host communities around its Tarkwa Mine, with a bold target to transform farming productivity, promote sustainable agriculture, and empower rural livelihoods.
The new phase of the programme, which began in Damang in 2018, aims to replicate its previous success, where 600 farmers recorded a remarkable 77% increase in cocoa yields over three years. Building on this, GFGF plans to support 300 farmers in Tarkwa over the next five years with vital agricultural inputs, access to credit, and training in climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices.
Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, Manager of Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine, emphasized that the initiative reflects the Foundation’s broader commitment to agricultural development. “With over US$6.9 million invested in agriculture to date, we are dedicated to improving farmer livelihoods and proving that mining and agriculture can thrive side by side,” she said.
The Tarkwa phase of the project was informed by a baseline study, which revealed that farmers in Pepesa and Huniso communities had average cocoa yields of just 2.2 bags per acre—well below the national target of eight bags. The research also flagged major challenges in access to inputs, pest control, credit, and labour.
To address these, GFGF is partnering with the Promprom Credit Union to ease farmers’ access to financing, while also offering training on safe pesticide use, agroforestry, and other best practices. Farmers will be supported with fertilizers, pesticides, and seedlings to expand and rejuvenate their farms.
Dr Kuutor highlighted the initiative’s potential to increase farmer incomes by up to 40%, as witnessed in the earlier Damang programme. She also noted that other agricultural projects like the Community Oil Palm Project (COPP), Youth in Organic Horticulture Production (YouHop), and livestock production are part of the Foundation’s broader rural development strategy.
Speaking at the programme’s launch, Tarkwa Nsuaem MP Issah Salifu Taylor praised Gold Fields for prioritizing community development, pledging collaboration with key agencies including the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana Cocoa Board to sustain the effort.
Traditional leader Nana Adarkwa Bediako III called on the mining firm to consider reclaiming nearby mined lands for cocoa cultivation as part of its social responsibility, while farmer representative Mr Yaw Bedu urged beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity through hard work and commitment.
With its ambitious five-year agenda, the Cocoa Farmers Support Programme in Tarkwa is expected to deliver measurable improvements in yields, income, and environmental sustainability—ushering in a new chapter of agricultural empowerment in Ghana’s cocoa belt.
