-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 kYkgywwWY6O3nwXuZlzhgg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-018021.txt : 20081009
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-018021.hdr.sgml : 20081009
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081009124936
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-018021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081008
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081009
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081009

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903571
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GOLD & SILVER ORES [1040]
		IRS NUMBER:				980101955
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10901 WEST TOLLER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038309000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10901 WEST TOLLER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Higson-Smith Bruce
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264813

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12284
		FILM NUMBER:		081115644

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10579 BRADFORD RD
		STREET 2:		STE 103
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(303)894-4624

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
		STREET 2:		10901 WEST TOLLER DRIVE, SUITE 300
		CITY:			LITTLETON
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80127-6312

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HIGSON SMITH BRUCE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030925
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000903571</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264813</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Higson-Smith Bruce</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10901 WEST TOLLER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LITTLETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80127-6312</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Corporate Development</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78872</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">77,672 Common Shares are owned directly and 1,200 are owned indirectly by spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce Higson Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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