By Benjamin A. Commey Accra, Nov. 19, GNA – Former employees of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine have urged Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL) and the Go...
By Benjamin A. Commey
Accra, Nov. 19, GNA – Former employees of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine have urged Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL) and the Government to quickly settle unpaid benefits that they are owed, in order to ease their difficult situation.
This comes after months of delayed payments, unfulfilled commitments, and increasing financial struggles for the affected families.
At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Gabriel Madobi, who leads the Former Workers of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine, stated that what should have been a time of renewed optimism has instead turned into a period of "deep uncertainty, struggle, and numerous unresolved issues."
On September 3, 2024, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, who was the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources at the time, revoked the mining licenses of Future Global Resources (FGR) following allegations that the company repeatedly neglected its contractual responsibilities, such as unpaid SSNIT payments, outstanding provident fund amounts, delayed wages, and other legal obligations.
Employees at that time approved the decision, thinking it would lead to a more accountable and financially stable company.
On November 12, 2024, the lease was transferred to Heath Goldfields Limited, which was portrayed as technically and financially capable of revitalizing the mine's performance.
Mr. Madobi mentioned that employees initially welcomed the change with hope, anticipating that HGL would quickly clear unpaid debts, resume activities, and provide the necessary funds to restart the mine.
"That hope remains unachieved," he stated.
Mr. Madobi stated that even after gaining control of the mine, Heath Goldfields continued to neglect its responsibilities toward employees, leading to additional demonstrations and a 120-day order issued by the present Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Armah Kofi Buah, requiring the company to settle all unpaid benefits.
He stated that rather than tackling these issues, HGL initiated what it called "operational restructuring" and put the mine into "care and maintenance," leading to the termination of many workers.
He characterized the resulting human impact as "unquestionable," noting that numerous families were now dealing with unemployment, instability, and significant economic hardship.
In a letter dated August 27, 2025, Heath Goldfields committed to paying all unpaid Provident Fund contributions by the end of the month and settling payments for terminated employees by the end of September.
A subsequent note dated October 6, 2025, pushed the payment deadline to December 2025.
Mr. Madobi stated that, so far, only roughly half of the affected employees have been paid their Provident Fund contributions, with End of Contract Benefits, unpaid leave balances, and the 2023 bonus still outstanding.
Section 18 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), states that any unpaid wages must be settled with an employee when their employment ends, he mentioned.
Mr. Madobi stated that Heath Goldfields had not adhered to legal requirements and ministerial instructions, and urged the government to take immediate action to assist the employees and their families.
We are insisting on immediate payment for all End of Contract Benefits, Unpaid Leave Balances, the 2023 Bonus, and Severance Pay. Heath Goldfields has clearly demonstrated its inability to fulfill its financial responsibilities.
It is now the right moment for a more skilled operator to assume control of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine.
Mr. Madobi also raised doubts about whether sufficient due diligence was conducted prior to granting the lease to HGL, expressing worries that the company's present financial issues resembled those that resulted in the cancellation of FGR's lease.
He pointed out that the company's present emphasis on reprocessing old tailings was not a viable approach for bringing the mine back to life, stating, "if reprocessing tailings was the objective, the previous operator could have carried on without ending the lease."
Mr. Madibo, therefore, called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to conduct a comprehensive review of all field reports and submissions after the 120-day notice period ended, emphasizing that an equitable and definitive decision was urgently required.
"As Ghanaians, we are prepared to back any government measures aimed at bringing this national asset back to its former state and guaranteeing sustained investment and operational stability," he stated.
Mr. Samuel Arthur, a miner with 40 years of experience, dismissed the idea that employees were pushing for these requests because they had been let go, maintaining that they were simply asking for what they were owed.
He stated that he was "emotionally overwhelmed" due to the circumstances, asking the Minister to take immediate action to fulfill all their requests.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong
