Hundreds of former employees of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine have issued a damning critique of the mine’s current operator, Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL), claiming the company has failed to honour its financial obligations and is mirroring the deficiencies of its ousted predecessor.
During a news conference held at the Ghana International Press Centre on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the distraught members of the Former Workers of Bogoso Prestea Mines Union called upon the government to remove Health immediately and install a “more financially capable operator”.
The emergency press briefing was held just three days after a tragic accident on Sunday, November 16th, where several suspected illegal miners perished underground in the Prestea concession of the Health.
The ex-workers’ current hardship began after the initial operator, Future Global Resources (FGR), had its mining leases terminated by the then-Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, on September 3, 2024.
The community and workers welcomed FGR’s removal, as it had repeatedly failed to rectify “clear contractual and conditional breaches,” including neglecting to pay SSNIT contributions, Provident Fund arrears, bonuses, and salaries.
The lease was subsequently reassigned to HGL on November 12, 2024, under the crucial understanding that the new operator would clear all existing outstanding debts and inject the required capital to stabilise and revive the Bogoso-Prestea Mine.
“Unfortunately, that hope has not been fulfilled,” Convenor of the Former Workers of Bogoso Prestea-Mines Union, Gabriel Madobi, emphasised.
HGL failed to meet its obligations, forcing workers into yet another protest, which triggered a fresh 120-day notice from the current minister.
Instead of payment, HGL disengaged a substantial number of employees under the pretext of “operational restructuring” and placed the mine under “care and maintenance”.
The workers presented specific data on HGL’s repeated failure to meet payment timelines, raising “serious questions about the financial capacity of Heath Goldfields Limited to operate the mine”.
| Payment Obligation | Initial Promised Deadline (Memo: 27 Aug 2025) | Revised Deadline (Memo: 6 Oct 2025) | Status as of 19 Nov 2025 |
| Provident Fund Contributions | End of August 2025 | December 2025 | Only about half of affected workers paid |
| Payments to Disengaged Workers | End of September 2025 | December 2025 (Implied) | End of Contract Benefits, Outstanding Leave Balances, and the 2023 Bonus remain unpaid |
These delays, the workers lamented, have had severe human costs.
“Our families are struggling to afford food, education, and healthcare.”
Furthermore, some former employees, who dedicated decades of their lives to the mine, have died without receiving their lawful entitlements.
The former workers asserted that HGL is in violation of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which is clear in Section 18 that “all outstanding remuneration must be paid upon termination of employment”. They also explicitly stated they are not bound by any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Ghana Mine Workers Union, as it does not align with statutory law.
The workers also criticised HGL’s current business model, which involves the hauling and treatment of old tailings materials.
They argue this is unsustainable and merely a “stopgap measure”.
They questioned why the government granted the lease if the objective was simply to process tailings, pointing out that even the former operator, FGR, could have done that.
Their appeal to the current minister, Armah Kofi Buah, included pointed questions about the rigorousness of HGL’s financial vetting:
- “What level of capital commitment did Heath Goldfields present before acquiring the lease?”
- “Did the government independently conduct due diligence to confirm Heath Goldfields has the financial capacity to revive and sustain the mine?”
The workers concluded by urging the minister to use the expiration of the 120-day notice to take decisive action, warning that “The signs of financial strain we see today mirror the very problems that led to the removal of FGR.”
The former workers’ plea for justice and dignity remains resolute.
“We are not here only to fight for what is due us financially; we stand here today on behalf of many in pursuit of justice, accountability, and a dignified future for the men and women who built and sustained this mine.”
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