-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JCF1Ksc/vXxDvFb3VAlfrHs8A9JTrnAJEiC38Gxxjq48EJrafKTzQKjyeD5IZAD8
 877vKc4KFKxipSXiJ6Hqvw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-000805.txt : 20090108
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-000805.hdr.sgml : 20090108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090108170557
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-000805
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090108

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:			MARTINEAU MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287147

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12284
		FILM NUMBER:		09516308

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10901 W TOLLER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		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
</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>2008-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287147</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARTINEAU MICHAEL</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Share Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.88</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>240000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The exercise price is CD$1.08; this amount is the US$ equivalent (CD$1.00=US$.8171) on the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Roger Palmer for Michael P. Martineau/Pursuant to Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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