GNA-The ex-workers of Bogoso-Prestea Mine in the Western Region have urged the government to compel Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL) to pay their outstanding entitlement without delay.
These include, the provident fund arrears, bonuses, end of contract service pay, severance, and other statutory obligations owed the former workers.
Mr Kwame Kyei Addo, convenor of the group, revealed this in Prestea when he addressed the media on behalf of the aggrieved former workers, who were dressed in red with armbands.
He alleged that since HGL assumed control during the last quarter of 2024, they had repeatedly failed to honour basic commitments to workers and had engaged in acts that have further eroded trust and confidence.
“Among these were unfair and discriminatory treatment of employees, with selective payments made only to those aligned with certain union interests, unauthorized movement of gold-bearing materials from site, in breach of operational and regulatory protocols, among others”.
These actions forced a section of workers to petition the Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni-Valley, Western Regional Minister, and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to intervene, he said.
He added, “We acknowledge Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, personal effort in this matter. His visit to the Mine on May 24, 2025, and subsequent 120-day ultimatum compelled HGL to begin limited payments to some former employees.
Without this intervention, none of the non-unionized affiliated workers would have received any compensation”.
“However, nearly five months after the minister’s directive, HGL continues to defy both moral and legal obligations. The company’s repeated failure to pay all entitlements exposes a disturbing disregard for the authority of the Ministry and the welfare of Ghanaian workers”.
Mr Addo claimed that after HGL had taken over the Mine they disengaged over 400 employees under the pretext of “operational restructuring and the Mine’s placement under “care and maintenance.”
The affected workers, he said, acting in good faith, accepted this decision on the clear understanding that HGL would promptly pay all their lawful entitlements.
Also, he said beyond the limited payments covering portions of salary arrears and provident funds, the company had failed to honour its full obligations, leading to financial difficulties for hundreds of affected employees.
“Under Ghana’s Labour Act of 2003, Act 651, section 18, “remuneration on termination of employment”, employees are entitled to full payment of all benefits upon termination. Despite this clear legal mandate, HGL has repeatedly defaulted on payments”.
“In a memorandum dated August 27, 2025, HGL committed to settling all outstanding provident fund contributions and benefits by the end of September 2025. Yet, as of October 31, 2025, less than half of the affected workers have received their benefits, while others have been entirely neglected,” the convenor explained.
He said the former workers could no longer endure unfulfilled promises, shifting payment schedules, and deliberate inaction, adding that, the families of numerous former mining sector workers, who had given decades of their lives to the industry, had suffered enough.
Mr Addo suggested that with the expiration of the 120-day ultimatum given to HGL to show cause and fulfil workers welfare rights, the government should institute a comprehensive financial and operational audit of HGL to ascertain its true financial capacity and compliance with lease conditions to avert challenges faced by the previous owners.
He again appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Minerals Commission, and all relevant state authorities to take swift and decisive action, as justice delayed was justice denied.
Mr. Samuel Attah Baah, one of the affected former workers, told the Ghana News Agency that, they were given letters telling them to stay home and wait to be recalled when operations resumed.
He emphasized that the law required that HGL settled their entitlements before they began operation, but this was disregarded.
“l am facing difficulties. Now l am being compelled to withdraw my four children from private schools and enroll them in public schools because l can no longer afford the fees.” Mr. Baah lamented.
