Catherine Kuupol Kuutor First Woman Mining Personality 2024
Dr Catherine Kuupol Kuutor of Gold Fields Ghana Ltd has made history as the first woman to be named Mining Personality of the Year at the 11th Ghana Mining Industry Awards in Accra on Friday, 5 December 2025.
The award ceremony, held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence in Mining: Creating Value Beyond Minerals”, was organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines to honour outstanding performance across safety, innovation, technology, gender inclusion, community development and responsible mining.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. It reflects not just my efforts but also the collective progress women are making in Ghana’s mining sector,” Dr Kuupol Kuutor said.
She currently leads the Tarkwa Mine as Manager, a role she assumed in May 2024, becoming the first woman to head a major gold mine in Ghana. In that capacity she has overseen initiatives that boosted gold recovery rates at both Tarkwa and the neighbouring Damang mine.
Her two‑decade career began in 2004 at Golden Star’s Wassa Mine, where she entered as a metallurgical trainee. Rising through technical and supervisory ranks, she earned the Female Mining Professional of the Year award in 2020 and the Most Outstanding Leader award from Mining Review Africa in February 2025.
Beyond her operational duties, Dr Kuupol Kuutor is a vocal advocate for women in mining. She sponsors academic prizes for top students at the University of Mines and Technology and actively participates in Women in Mining Ghana and the Ghana Institution of Engineers.
Holding a PhD in Minerals Engineering from UMaT, she has published research on mining efficiency and cost reduction that is widely cited by industry practitioners. Her work has helped shape best‑practice guidelines for ore processing and sustainable mine management.
The historic win underscores the growing influence of female leaders in Ghana’s mining sector and signals a shift toward greater gender diversity on mine sites. Industry observers expect the award to inspire more women to pursue careers in mining, while Gold Fields Ghana plans to build on her leadership to drive further value creation beyond minerals.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
