Former workers of the Bogoso–Prestea Mine are calling for urgent government intervention over what they describe as “broken promises” and “betrayed trust” following the takeover of the mine by Heath Goldfields Ltd. (HGL).
The workers are demanding full payment of all outstanding benefits, and have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the mining lease to HGL.
The mine, previously owned by Future Global Resources (FGR), was reassigned to HGL in November 2024 after the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources terminated FGR’s lease due to persistent financial and operational failures.
The transfer to HGL was based on assurances that it was both financially and technically capable of reviving the mine and settling all outstanding worker entitlements.
However, at a news conference in Prestea on October 31, 2025, a spokesman for the former workers, Kwame Kyei Addo accused HGL of failing to honour these commitments.
He alleged the company has defaulted on payments of severance, redundancy benefits, end of service pay, accrued leave days, and provident fund arrears, leaving hundreds of disengaged workers in dire economic straits.
According to him, HGL disengaged over 400 employees after taking over the mine, claiming the decision was part of “operational restructuring.” He says the affected workers accepted their disengagement on clear assurances that all lawful entitlements would be promptly settled.
Nearly a year later, however, most of these payments remain outstanding.
Under section 18 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), employees are entitled to full payment of all benefits upon termination.
The workers say HGL has breached this legal requirement, as well as its own commitments set out in a memorandum dated August 27, 2025, in which it pledged to pay all outstanding benefits by the end of September 2025.
A subsequent memo extended the deadline to December 2025, raising further doubts about the company’s financial capacity.
The workers are also calling for a full audit into the circumstances of the lease reassignment.
They question whether sufficient due diligence was undertaken before HGL was handed control of the mine, given the company’s failure to meet agreed conditions.
“We can no longer endure unfulfilled promises, shifting payment schedules, and deliberate inaction,” Mr. Kyei Addo said. “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
They have appealed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and other relevant state agencies to step in and ensure all outstanding entitlements are paid without further delay.
The press statement was signed by the former workers and copied to several key officials, including the Western Regional Minister, the CEO of the Minerals Commission, Heath Goldfields Ltd, and local traditional authorities.
