The former employees of the Bogoso–Prestea Mine have once again called for government action after expressing frustration with what they see as repeated failures by Heath Goldfields Ltd. (HGL) to meet its financial responsibilities.
At a press conference in Prestea on Thursday, Kwame Kyei Addo, the spokesperson for the workers, stated that the former employees are at their breaking point after months of broken promises. “Our patience has been stretched to its limit. The time for further promises has passed,” Mr. Addo said, reading from a statement signed by all parties involved. “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
The mine was previously owned by Future Global Resources (FGR), whose lease was terminated in August 2024 due to ongoing disputes over unpaid wages and benefits. The lease was then given to HGL in November 2024, with the condition that it would settle all outstanding payments, stabilize operations, and revive the mine.
However, nearly a year later, Mr. Addo claimed that HGL has not fulfilled most of its commitments, leaving more than 400 former workers in severe financial hardship. “Despite clear legal requirements under Ghana’s Labour Act and repeated commitments made in official documents, HGL has failed to pay for provident fund arrears, end-of-service benefits, accrued leave, bonuses, and other statutory entitlements,” he said.
The workers also raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the lease transfer, questioning whether sufficient financial due diligence was conducted before reassigning the lease to HGL. They pointed out that the company’s inability to meet its obligations raises serious questions about the adequacy of the process.
The group acknowledged the intervention of Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, whose 120-day deadline in May 2025 led to limited payments to some former employees. “Without this intervention, no non-unionized affiliated worker would have received any compensation,” the statement noted.
Despite this, Mr. Addo said that HGL continues to ignore both its moral and legal responsibilities. He urged the government to take immediate action to force HGL to settle all outstanding debts and conduct an audit of its financial and operational status.
“We, the former workers of Bogoso–Prestea Mine, call on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and all relevant state authorities to act decisively and without delay. The dignity, livelihoods, and rights of Ghanaian mine workers must not be sacrificed on the altar of empty assurances,” the statement concluded.