About Us 
Our leadership
Executive Education Programme, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, USA; MSc, Mining Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); Statutory Mines Manager Certificate, Minerals Commission Ghana; First Vice President, Ghana Chamber of Mines; Member, Australasia Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
With over two decades of experience in mining engineering, Alfred Baku rose through the ranks to become the Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa. Alfred joined Gold Fields in 2002 as a Mining Engineer. In 2004, he worked as a Senior Mining Engineer at Gold Fields' Agnew Mine in Western Australia. He also worked at Gold Field's St. Ives Mine in Australia in 2005.
Alfred returned to Ghana in 2007 to head the Mining Department of the Damang Mine, and was appointed General Manager of the mine in November 2008. He became the General Manager of the Tarkwa Mine in 2010 and subsequently, the Vice President of Operations for both mines. In 2013, Alfred was promoted to Senior Vice President for West Africa and became a member of Gold Fields Group's Executive Committee. In February 2014, he was appointed the Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa.
Prior to joining Gold Fields, Alfred worked in Australia for Billiton and Ranger Minerals in production and mine planning engineering capacities. As the First Vice President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Alfred serves on the Advisory Board of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
B. Eng. (Extractive Metallurgy), University of Pretoria; Statutory Mines Manager's Certificate, Minerals Commission of Ghana.
Michiel van der Merwe is a Metallurgical Engineer with over 24 years' experience in the mining industry. He was appointed Acting Vice President – Operations in January 2022. Michiel joined Gold Fields as General Manager of the Tarkwa mine in January 2012. He was later appointed General Manager of the Damang mine in January 2016. Michiel has played a key role in the growth and development of both the Tarkwa and Damang operations, successfully executing the Damang reinvestment project, which started in 2017. Prior to joining Gold Fields, Michiel was the Executive Officer Operations at Sylvania Platinum in South Africa. This follows his time with AngloGold Ashanti (mostly in West Africa) and SamancorCr (Eastern Chrome mines in South Africa) as Metallurgical Manager.
EMBA, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Ghana; MSc Minerals Engineering, Camborne School of Mines, UK; BSc Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Mines and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; MGhIE, Certified Mine and Process Plant Manager, Minerals Commission Ghana.
Casper Dzormeku's career as a Minerals/Process Engineer spans over 30 years, having worked in Ghana, South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Mr Dzormeku re-joined Gold Fields in March 2019 as Asanko Joint Venture Manager and Regional Metallurgical Lead. He was the Process Manager – Heap Leach for Gold Field's Tarkwa mine from December 2010 to May 2013. He has held several managerial positions, including General Manager of Ad Duwayhi Gold Mine in Saudi Arabia, Processing Engineering Manager of Hanwha Engineering and Construction Company in South Korea and Senior Manager – Metallurgy at AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi mine.
MBA, Human Resources, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration; BSc (Hons) Tourism, University of Cape Coast.
Catherine Abadji was appointed Vice President and Head of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs for the West Africa Region on 1 July 2022. She has over 18 years' experience in human resource management. Catherine started her career at Newmont Ghana and later worked at Clark Sustainable Resource Developments as HR Manager. She moved to L'Oréal West Africa, where she managed teams in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. Prior to joining Gold Fields, Catherine was the Human Resources Director for GBfoods Ghana.
Strategic Leadership Programme, University of Oxford, UK; Executive Leadership Programme, University of Cape Town; MBA, University of Pretoria; BCom Accounting, University of Stellenbosch; SAIPA registration, IPA Australia.
Lindley H. Witbooi has over 22 years of career experience as an accountant, mostly in the mining industry. Mr Witbooi joined Gold Fields in August 2007 as Finance Manager, before being appointed Vice President and Head of Finance for the West Africa Region in August 2013. Prior to joining Gold Fields, Mr Witbooi was the Management Information Manager: Finance at Anglo American in South Africa.
PhD and MSc Geoenvironmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Canada; BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana; Registered Professional Engineer, Ontario, Canada (P.Eng.); Registered Professional Engineer, Ghana Institute of Engineers (Ing.); Member of the Ghana Geotechnical Society and International Geosynthetics Society.
Dr Celestina Allotey has over 20 years' experience as a Geoenvironmental Engineer, researcher and consultant. She joined Gold Fields in August 2020 as Vice President and Head of Sustainable Development. Prior to joining Gold Fields, Dr Allotey worked at Golder Associates as Senior Geoenvironmental/Tailings Engineer and later as the company's Regional Manager for West Africa. She was also the Senior Manager for Environment and Closure at AngloGold Ashanti Ghana, following her time with AMEC Earth and Environmental in Ontario, Canada as a Geoenvironmental Engineer.
Dr Allotey's over two decades career includes her extensive consultancy work in environmental management, closure planning, tailings engineering and construction, as well as acting as a third party auditor for several mining companies in Canada and Ghana.
LLM, Queen Mary University of London; Cert (International Commercial Litigation), University College London; Cert (Environmental Law), University of Pretoria; MBA (Finance), University of Ghana Business School; QCL, Ghana School of Law; LLB, University of Ghana; BA, Economics & Geography, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Member of the Ghana Bar Association; Certified Tax Practitioner and member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana; Investment Advisor's Representative licensed by Ghana's Securities and Exchange Commission.
Michael Edem Akafia was appointed Vice President and Head of Legal and Compliance for Gold Fields West Africa in March 2015. Since joining the company in 2010, Mr Akafia has held the position of Company Secretary of all Gold Fields entities in Ghana and previously served as the Legal Manager. He has more than 19 years’ experience as a legal practitioner, most of which has been in leadership positions, including Head of Legal and Company Secretary at SIC Financial Services Limited, Associate with Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah law firm, as well as Research and Legal Assistant for Lawfields Consulting. He was previously a part-time lecturer in Business Law and Jurisprudence at Zenith University College in Ghana. In February 2022, Michael was appointed as a notary public by the Chief Justice of Ghana.
Diploma in Senior Management, Warwick University, UK; Engineering Manager's Certificate, Ghana; Statutory Mines Manager's Certificate, Minerals Commission Ghana; Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer, South Africa; Mechanical Engineering Certificate, South Africa; National Higher Diploma in Engineering, South Africa.
With over 42 years of career experience in Mechanical Engineering, Johannes Lodewickes de Beer rose through the ranks to become the Vice President and Head of Engineering Projects for Gold Fields West Africa. He was appointed to this role in 2015 after being promoted from Head of Engineering for the West Africa Region. Mr de Beer joined Gold Fields in January 1979 as an apprentice at the Usutu Colliery mine in South Africa. He went on to become Senior Engineering Manager at Gold Fields' Beatrix and Kloof gold mines in South Africa. In 2006, Mr de Beer moved to Ghana to work with Gold Fields' Tarkwa mine as Chief Engineer and later as the Engineering Manager of the mine.
MBA, Henley Management College, UK; MSc Mining Engineering, University of Mines and Technology; BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Executive Leadership Programmes at Denver University - USA, Imperial College - UK and Wits University - South Africa; Chartered Management Accountant, CIMA CGMA; Member of Ghana Institution of Engineering
Joshua Mortoti is a Mechanical and Mining Engineer with over 25 years' experience in the mining industry. His areas of expertise include managing mine operations, engineering, strategic planning and business development. Additionally, he is knowledgeable in energy management and accounting.
He joined Gold Fields in April 2021 as Vice President – Operations for the West Africa Region and was appointed EVP and Head of the Region in August 2022 after acting in the role for seven months.
Prior to joining Gold Fields, Josh spent 15 years with Newmont, working in various senior managerial and executive roles, including General Manager of the Akyem Mine, General Manager - Operational Services, Mine Manager of the Ahafo Mine, Regional Business Planning Director, as well as Regional Capital and Energy Manager. Josh was also the Business Development Manager for AngloGold Ashanti's West Africa operations.
Josh is the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, having previously served as the Chairperson of the energy and technical committees of the Chamber. He also served on the technical committees of Ghana's Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Ghana Standards Board and the Energy Commission. He was involved in developing Ghana's power regulatory framework, including leading the technical team to define guidelines for bulk customers and tariff setting.
MBA, Henley Management College, UK; MSc Mining Engineering, University of Mines and Technology; BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Executive Leadership Programmes at Denver University - USA, Imperial College - UK and Wits University - South Africa; Chartered Management Accountant, CIMA CGMA; Member of Ghana Institution of Engineering
Joshua Mortoti is a Mechanical and Mining Engineer with over 25 years' experience in the mining industry. His areas of expertise include managing mine operations, engineering, strategic planning and business development. Additionally, he is knowledgeable in energy management and accounting.
He joined Gold Fields in April 2021 as Vice President – Operations for the West Africa Region and became the Acting EVP and Head of the Region on 1 January 2022.
Prior to joining Gold Fields, Josh spent 15 years with Newmont, working in various senior managerial and executive roles, including General Manager of the Akyem Mine, General Manager - Operational Services, Mine Manager of the Ahafo Mine, Regional Business Planning Director, as well as Regional Capital and Energy Manager. Josh was also the Business Development Manager for AngloGold Ashanti's West Africa operations.
Josh previously served on the technical committees of Ghana's Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Ghana Standards Board and the Energy Commission. He was involved in developing Ghana's power regulatory framework and led the technical team to define guidelines for bulk customers and tariff setting. He was formerly the Chairperson of the Energy and Technical Committees of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
MBA, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK; MSc (Eng), Mineral Resource Evaluation, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; BSc (Hons) Geology, University of Natal, South Africa; Fellow, Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
Steven Robins is a geologist with over 25 years’ experience in the mining industry. He joined Gold Fields West Africa in October 2020 as Regional Manager – Geology and was appointed Acting Vice President – Technical Services in December 2022. He started his career with SRK in 1996 as an engineering geologist on secondment to AngloGold Ashanti’s Navachab Gold Mine in Namibia. He later joined AngloGold in June 2000, where he spent 19 years working in various roles including mine geology, mineral resource evaluation, geology management, as well as general management at the company’s East and West African operations. Prior to joining Gold Fields, Steven was the Mineral Resources Director for Nordgold in Burkina Faso.
