Workers at the Bogoso‑Prestea mine in the Western Region are up in arms again over what they describe as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources’ failure to honour previous assurances in the ongoing dispute with Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL).
The unrest comes amid worsening underground conditions and rampant illegal mining.
At a protest two weeks after Minister Emmanuel Armah‑Kofi Buah promised transparency, the workforce expressed deep frustration at the lack of visible government action to secure an investor capable of operating the mine.
They also accused HGL of posing more as brokers than viable investors, incapable of covering workers’ arrears or reviving operations.
One key leader, Isaac Amprofe, stated: “While many continue to suffer, the underground and other areas of the mine get deteriorated, Hon. Armah Kofi‑Buah goes mute, which is unacceptable. As workers, we can confidently say that Heath is more of a broker than an investor. The minister should not shield them.”
Workers are now planning a community‑wide demonstration calling on the government to officially revoke HGL’s leases and appoint a financially sound, technically competent investor to run the mine.
This demonstration comes after a similar protest on June 17th, when tensions flared at the Bogoso Prestea Mine after the Western Regional Manager of the Minerals Commission, Mr Francis Annobil Jr., failed to produce documentary evidence supporting claims that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources had granted a mining lease to Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL) for the operation of the mine.
Addressing workers and community leaders on behalf of HGL, Mr Annobil asserted that the Minister had approved HGL’s lease application. However, his inability to produce either a signed mining lease or an official letter from the Minister sparked agitation among the workforce, who accused him of lacking transparency.
“We want evidence, not words,” the workers insisted. “Produce the document or let the Minister himself make the announcement as promised.”
Efforts by Mr Annobil to convince the workers to cooperate with HGL despite unresolved issues, including the payment of outstanding arrears, were flatly rejected.
“Our demands remain unchanged,” said Mr Amoah Baidoo, a worker representative. “Whoever is granted the lease must pay all outstanding entitlements and provide a viable operational plan. The investor must be financially sound and technically competent.”
Background
In September 2024, the former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, revoked the leases of the previous operator, Future Global Resources (FGR), after it failed to recapitalise and pay salaries.
HGL, incorporated in February 2024 with minimal capital, was later granted the lease. However, HGL has failed to produce lease documents or public notices, leading to widespread uncertainty
In December 2024, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) froze the acquisition process amid fraud allegations, adding a legal cloud over HGL’s tenure
The High Court dismissed an attempt by FGR and another company to challenge the minister’s termination order, affirming the government’s right to revoke the leases.
The government’s response so far
The current Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has visited the mine and committed to “sweeping reforms” aimed at rebuilding trust and productivity, including task forces and a cooperative mining framework for small-scale miners.
However, workers say these measures fall short in addressing the core issue, which is appointing a capable investor. The workers are demanding immediate termination of HGL’s lease, selection of a financially and technically credible investor to revive the mine, full payment of outstanding entitlements to workers, government transparency on lease status and timelines, and improved underground safety and action against illegal mining.
With escalating tensions around employment, environmental safety, and community stability, the situation demands urgent, decisive action. Workers and residents alike are watching closely as the government’s next move could determine the mine’s future and the livelihoods it supports.
As protests loom, the government’s ability to act swiftly by replacing weak operators with strong ones will determine whether Bogoso‑Prestea can once again become a responsible and productive asset.
Read Also: Bogoso Prestea mine workers demand proof of lease amid mounting tensions
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