Some members of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens
A coalition of concerned citizens has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama over what it describes as deepening labour and operational failures at the Bogoso–Prestea Mine since its takeover by Heath Goldfields Limited, claiming that more than 400 workers have lost their jobs while several employee entitlements remain unpaid.
In the petition sent yesterday, the coalition argued that Heath Goldfields was awarded the Bogoso–Prestea mining leases largely on the basis of assurances of strong financial capacity, job preservation and a clear plan to revive the troubled mine. However, the petitioners contended that events since the lease approval had contradicted those assurances, leaving workers, their families and host communities facing severe hardship.
Undertakings
According to the petition, Heath Goldfields’ own Strategic Mine Development Plan, submitted to the Minerals Commission in October 2024, committed the company to settling outstanding salaries, provident fund contributions, SSNIT arrears, severance pay and other legacy liabilities within seven days of successful negotiations with the Ghana Mine Workers Union. These undertakings, the coalition noted, were cited as key conditions for the issuance of the mining leases.
The petition claimed that these commitments were only partially honoured, often after long delays. Six months of salary arrears were reportedly paid in July 2025, provident fund contributions followed in September 2025, while end-ofcontract benefits were not settled until December 2025. Several obligations, including severance pay, SSNIT arrears, Tier 2 pension contributions and entitlements owed to former managerial staff, are said to remain outstanding.
The coalition also disputed claims that Heath Goldfields received an initial capital injection of US$50 million, which was allegedly intended to immediately clear workers’ dues. Petitioners argued that the company’s failure to pay even two months of outstanding salaries by December 13, 2024, despite signing a memorandum of understanding with the union, raises serious questions about its liquidity and the accuracy of representations made during the bidding process.
Operational state
Beyond labour issues, the petition painted a bleak picture of the mine’s operational state. It alleged that several capital projects outlined in the Strategic Mine Development Plan, including rehabilitation of the processing plant, underground dewatering systems, ventilation works and the acquisition of critical mining equipment, had not been implemented. According to the coalition, most of the equipment listed in the development plan has neither been delivered nor installed, resulting in stalled production and operational challenges similar to those that led to the collapse of the previous operator, Future Global Resources (FGR).
The petition further revealed that in October 2025, the Minerals Commission issued Heath Goldfields a 120-day breach notice after the company failed to meet key funding and operational commitments under its leases. The coalition claimed that the notice period had since expired without any decisive regulatory action, warning that such inaction undermines confidence in Ghana’s mining regulatory regime and suggests selective enforcement of the law.
The petition also raised concerns about the role of state institutions in the lease approval process. It questioned the conduct of senior officials at the Minerals Commission, alleging that the haste to complete the transaction before a change in government may have compromised due diligence and regulatory oversight.
Demands
The coalition, therefore, demanded clarity on who authorised the leases, on what basis the approvals were granted, and why deviations from stated conditions were allegedly overlooked. For the mining communities of Bogoso and Prestea, the petition said the human and socio-economic consequences have been severe.
The coalition cautioned that without decisive state intervention, the situation risks a return to the labour unrest, community tension and economic decline that marked the final days of FGR’s operations.
The coalition further reminded the President and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of public assurances to secure a credible, well-financed investor for the Bogoso–Prestea Mine.
It called for an independent investigation into Heath Goldfields’ ownership structure, financial backing, regulatory compliance and adherence to lease conditions. It argued that failure to act could further erode public trust in Ghana’s mining governance and jeopardise one of the country’s most significant gold assets.
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