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Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, a trailblazer in Ghana’s mining industry
Catherine Kuupol Kuutor
Catherine Kuupol Kuutor was on May 1, 2024, appointed General Manager of Gold Fields Ghana’s Tarkwa Mine with a huge responsibility to manage all mining areas.
Her recent appointment has received massive plaudits from a lot of women who hailed her as one of the exceptional and hardworking female leaders in the mining industry.
Catherine Kuupol, has been described as a trailblazer in the mining industry driven by a determination to overcome challenges and reach new heights.
Her professional achievements are truly remarkable. Prior to her recent appointment, she made history as Gold Fields West Africa’s first female Metallurgical Manager overseeing operations at both the Tarkwa and Damang sites.
Catherine’s journey exemplifies the transformative impact of hard work, resilience, and unwavering dedication. She has inspired numerous individuals, especially women, to pursue careers in mining and engineering.
Notably, she sponsors two annual academic awards for Outstanding Achievements in Mineral Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology (UmaT), one for the Best Student Overall and another specifically for the Best Female Student. The awards has since motivated young people to excel in school and progress to securing careers in mines and engineering.
She has been a great role model for the youth especially female students within Tarkwa and beyond.
With a strong background in metallurgy, Catherine has devoted her career to unlocking the treasures in rocks while advocating for opportunities and representation of women in mining.
Her academic journey begun with a Diploma in Mineral Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Mines in 2002.
Building on this, she pursued a Master’s degree programme in Mineral Engineering from UMaT, Tarkwa; graduating in 2011. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. at UMaT, Catherine continues to deepen her expertise and understanding in the field.
Her illustrious career began at Golden Star Wassa Mine in 2004, starting as a laboratory metallurgist before progressing through various roles such as Shift Supervisor, Senior Plant Shift Supervisor, and International Cyanide Management Code coordinator.
In 2013, she moved to Abosso Gold Fields Limited – Damang Gold Mine as Plant Technical Superintendent, ascending to Unit Manager in 2015 and assuming leadership as Head of the Metallurgy Department and acted as General Manager at the Tarkwa Mine. She led several business improvement processes that contributed to increasing gold recovery at the Damang plant.
Throughout her professional journey, Catherine has shown unwavering dedication to her profession and colleagues, spearheading business enhancement initiatives leading to notable improvements in gold recovery processes.
Catherine also leads a team of dedicated professionals working towards making huge transformation within Goldfields as their contribution to economic growth.
Her exceptional contributions have gained widespread recognition including awards from the Ghana Chamber of Mines, recognition from Gold Fields Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and being honoured as Female Mining Professional of the Year during the sixth GMIA Awards ceremony in 2020.
Through her tireless efforts, Catherine is actively shaping a brighter future for women in the mining industry, leaving a lasting legacy. Catherine has been described as the ‘woman for the people’ as she makes time to socialise and provide a listening ear to anyone she works with, even on a personal level.
Catherine has set the pace for other women to follow as her rise has since become a motivation to her colleagues and women across industries.
By Michael D. Abayateye
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Health Minister leads delegation Mimi Darko’s appointment as AMA Director General
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health and Member of Parliament has led a delegation to secure the appointment of Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, as the Director General of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) during the ongoing 2nd Ordinary Session of the Conference of State Parties in Kigali, Rwanda.
This prestigious appointment, achieved through a competitive process, marks a proud and historic moment for Ghana and the entire continent.
It highlights Dr. Darko’s exceptional leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to enhancing public health and regulatory systems across Africa.
The Minister expressed his deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for his strong support and leadership throughout this process.
Mr.Akandoh congratulated Dr. Mimi Darko and Team Ghana for their incredibly successful campaign.
The AMA was established by the African Union on November 5, 2021, with the primary objective of improving access to quality, safe, and effective medical products throughout the continent. Its creation aims to facilitate the regulation and oversight of essential medicines at a continental level while promoting collaboration among African countries and regions.
The Agency’s mission is to provide leadership in creating an enabling regulatory environment for the pharmaceutical sector in Africa, ensuring that the African population has access to essential medical products and technologies.
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Police arrest five suspects involved in robbery cases in Ashanti Region
The Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) in the Ashanti Region has informed the public about a recent breakthrough in the fight against armed robbery in the Denchemuoso District.
Following a series of robbery incidents in the area, on April 22, 2025, PID/Ashanti operatives, acting on credible intelligence, apprehended one Michael Owusu Ansah, alias Baby Last, aged 32.
The suspect had been on the police wanted list since 2016 in connection with a robbery and the murder of Police Officer G/Cpl Frank Essel of SWAT/Ashanti, which occurred at the Open Space Hotel in Denchemuoso on May 19, 2016.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to engaging in multiple street and residential robberies in Denchemuoso, Atwima-Techiman, Asuoyeboah, and surrounding areas.
He also disclosed that his gang operated with knives, pistols, and pump-action guns.
Further investigations led to the identification and arrest of his accomplices, namely:Emmanuel Owusu, alias Cassidy, Maxwell Gyimah, alias Nana Kwame, Sudais Oxford Ntiamoah, alias The Man Sudais and Rhano Okyere, alias Demon
These individuals were arrested from their hideouts within Atwima-Techiman and Denchemuoso.
However, one suspect, remains at large and efforts are underway to apprehend him and recover the weapons used in the robberies.
All five arrested suspects were arraigned before the Atasomanso Circuit Court on May 13, 2025.
They were remanded into police custody and are scheduled to reappear on June 4, 2025.
