Newmont Ghana Gold Limited has reversed its position on constructing double-sealed roads in the Asutifi North District following just one day of a planned three-day community protest, agreeing instead to build the asphalt roads demanded by residents.
The mining company’s change in stance came after a high-level meeting convened by the Ahafo Regional Minister, Mrs. Charity Gardiner, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Regional Security Council. The meeting included Newmont’s senior management, protest leaders, security officials, and other key stakeholders.
Sources at the meeting confirmed that Newmont officials, led by their Acting General Manager, pledged to construct asphalt roads. They indicated, however, that the new position must be communicated to the company’s global headquarters in Denver, USA, with feedback expected next week.
The reversal followed a major demonstration on Tuesday, January 20, the first day of a planned three-day action. Hundreds of residents, Assembly Members, and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) marched through Kenyasi and Ntotroso to Newmont’s plant site, defying a strong warning from the Paramount Chiefs of Kenyasi No. 1, Kenyasi No. 2, and Ntotroso.
Protesters argued that the proposed double-sealed roads, locally referred to as “Sapetee,” were substandard and deteriorated quickly, citing existing examples in Ntotroso, Gyedu, and Wamahinso. Demonstrators carried placards bearing messages such as “Our Roads, Our Choice,” “Newmont Profits While We Suffer,” and “We Don’t Want Saapetee Roads,” calling for durable asphalt roads and meaningful stakeholder consultation.
The protest proceeded peacefully under police supervision and concluded with the submission of a petition to the Regional Minister.
The demonstration followed a tense standoff between community representatives and traditional authorities. The Paramount Chiefs of Kenyasi No. 1, Kenyasi No. 2, and Ntotroso had earlier cautioned residents against protesting, warning of severe consequences for those who defied their directive.
The impasse stemmed from a breakdown in dialogue between Assembly Members and Newmont’s community relations team. In a notice dated January 5, 2026, the Assembly Members formally expressed a loss of confidence in Newmont’s representatives and announced their decision to discontinue engagements with them.
With Newmont’s new commitment, the remaining days of the planned protest have been suspended. Attention now turns to the company’s headquarters in Denver, whose approval of the asphalt road pledge will determine whether the community’s swift action results in lasting development.
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