Golden Star Resources Reports Preliminary Fourth Quarter Operational Results and 2013 Guidance

DENVER, CO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/08/13 -- Golden Star Resources Ltd. (NYSE MKT: GSS) (TSX: GSC) (GHANA: GSR) ("Golden Star" or the "Company") today announced preliminary 2012 fourth quarter and full year production results for its Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa/HBB operations.

The Company produced and poured 92,614 ounces of gold in the fourth quarter of 2012, of which 87,544 ounces were sold, representing a 31% increase over 70,811 ounces of gold produced in the fourth quarter last year and a 15% increase over third quarter 2012 gold production of 80,826 ounces.

For 2012, Golden Star produced and poured 336,348 ounces of gold, of which 331,278 ounces were sold, representing a 12% increase over 301,120 ounces produced in 2011. The full year poured gold production total of 336,348 ounces was in line with 2012 guidance, and cash operating costs are estimated to be within the guidance range of $1,040 to $1,100 per ounce. The Company closed 2012 with an estimated cash and cash equivalents balance of approximately $73 million, not including the estimated proceeds of approximately $8.4 million expected in early 2013 for the 5,070 ounces poured but not sold by December 31, 2012.

"We are pleased to announce a strong fourth quarter of gold production, which enabled Golden Star to achieve production guidance for the full year. Additionally, we estimate that 2012 cash operating costs will also be within our guidance range," said Sam Coetzer, President and CEO. "Achieving both production and cost guidance is a testament to the operational improvements accomplished through the hard work and dedication of our entire team and sets the tone for the future."

2012 Highlights:

• Significantly improved operating cash flows year over year;


• A 12% increase in gold production year over year;


• A major drilling program at Wassa, where the Company is evaluating several newly discovered zones of gold mineralization below the current Wassa pits;


• Planning of the restart of mining at the Prestea Underground mine following completion of the favorable Preliminary Economic Assessment;


• Enhanced plant availability and ore supply at both Wassa and Bogoso;


• Successful re-start of the non-refractory plant at Bogoso and development of the Pampe pit as its primary feed source;


• An improved balance sheet, including a significant reduction in debt;


• Significant improvements in community relationships within the Bogoso and Wassa catchment areas; and


• Advancement of development plans for the Dumasi and Mampon pits.

Golden Star recently announced key changes to its Board of Directors and executive management team as well as plans to move its corporate headquarters to Toronto. In addition to Sam Coetzer assuming the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, veteran mining industry executive Jeff Swinoga has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and former Kinross COO Tim Baker has joined the Board as Executive Chairman.

"We have strengthened our Board and believe we have the right executive team in place to advance our exciting pipeline of projects and help Golden Star realize the significant potential represented by our strong asset base," Coetzer said. "In addition, our move to Toronto gives us better access to the capital markets, shareholders and other resources critical to our growth plans."

2012 quarterly and full year production results* are as follows:

                                Bogoso/Prestea    Wassa/HBB      Combined
                                -------------- -------------- --------------

First quarter Oz produced               41,242         36,483         77,725

Second quarter Oz produced              44,115         41,068         85,183

Third quarter Oz produced               39,844         40,982         80,826

Fourth quarter Oz produced              50,230         42,384         92,614

2012 full year Oz produced             175,431        160,917      336,348**

*Preliminary, subject to change until 2012 annual audited financial
statements are filed with regulatory authorities.
**Total ounces produced includes 5,070 ounces poured that were not sold in
2012.



2013 GUIDANCE

                         Bogoso/Prestea      Wassa/HBB          Combined
                       ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Oz produced                   170,000 to        150,000 to        320,000 to
                                 190,000           160,000           350,000
Cash operating cost
($/oz)                    1,150 to 1,250      900 to 1,000    1,050 to 1,150

Notes:
   1. Power and fuel prices used in the guidance are $0.16 per kilowatt-hour
      and $1.33 per liter, respectively.
   2. Starting in late 2012, and continuing through 2014, water treatment
      costs are estimated to add approximately $60 per ounce at Bogoso, but
      should drop significantly thereafter when the current backlog of
      process water is treated.

COMPANY PROFILE

Golden Star Resources holds the largest land package in one of the world's largest and most prolific gold producing regions. The Company holds a 90% equity interest in Golden Star (Bogoso/Prestea) Limited and Golden Star (Wassa) Limited, which respectively own the Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa/HBB open-pit gold mines in Ghana, West Africa. In addition, Golden Star has an 81% interest in the Prestea Underground mine in Ghana, as well as gold exploration interests elsewhere in Ghana, in other parts of West Africa and in Brazil in South America. Golden Star has approximately 259 million shares outstanding. Additional information is available at www.gsr.com.

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Specifically, statements in this news release regarding the increase in 2012 gold production and expectations for cash operating costs being within the guidance range; estimated proceeds for gold poured but not sold by December 31, 2012; plans to restart the Prestea Underground Mine and advance the Dumasi, Mampon and Prestea South development projects; expectations regarding water treatment at Bogoso; plans to move the corporate headquarters to Toronto; expectations for better access to capital, shareholders and other resources in Toronto; the potential of the Company's asset base; plans to advance the Company's pipeline of projects; and 2013 production and cash operating cost guidance, including estimated power and fuel prices and water treatment costs, are forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include timing of and unexpected events at the Wassa plant and Bogoso/Prestea oxide and sulfide processing plant; variations in ore grade, tonnes mined, crushed or milled; variations in relative amounts of refractory, non-refractory and transition ores; delay or failure to receive board or government approvals and permits; the availability and cost of electrical power; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; technical, permitting, mining or processing issues; changes in U.S. and Canadian securities markets; and fluctuations in gold price and costs and general economic conditions. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in our Form 10-K for 2011 and subsequent Forms 10-Q for 2012 and other filings of the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received and that actual results will vary from these estimates, possibly by material amounts. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any forecasts in this press release represent management's estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.

For further information, please contact:

GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
Bruce Higson-Smith

Senior Vice President Finance & Corporate Development

1-800-553-8436

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Jay Pfeiffer

Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc.

303-393-7044