Coalition of Concerned Citizens-Bogoso Prestea has petitioned the Presidency to initiate an independent investigation into the acquisition and ongoing operations of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine by Heath Goldfields Limited, alleging material misrepresentation and financial incapacity.
The petition submitted, claims the mining leases granted in December 2024 were predicated on deceptive financial assurances and a strategic mine plan that has since suffered from systemic failure.
According to the coalition, led by former worker Gabriel Madobi, the transition from FGR Bogoso Prestea to Heath Goldfields has not yielded the promised economic stability, but has instead resulted in over 400 job losses and significant outstanding statutory liabilities.
The petitioners expressed grave doubts regarding Heath Goldfields’ corporate identity, questioning its purported status as a subsidiary of the Turkish conglomerate Yilmaden Holding, while highlighting that the firm’s GHS 10,000 incorporation capital in February 2024 is grossly insufficient for a tier-one mining asset.
“Pending the outcome of such investigations, appropriate remedial measures should be taken to safeguard workers’ rights, protect state interests, and preserve the integrity of Ghana’s mining sector.”
Coalition of Concerned Citizens-Bogoso Prestea
Legacy Debts and Labor Disputes
The crux of the controversy lies in a contested GHS 136 million payment which Heath Goldfields claims has settled legacy liabilities.
While the company and the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) maintain that this disbursement demonstrates “growing credibility” and adherence to their Memorandum of Understanding, the coalition argues that the figure is a mere fraction of the total debt.
Workers assert that critical components of their compensation, including severance pay, SSNIT arrears, and Tier 2 pension contributions, remain unpaid more than a year after the takeover.
Mr. Madobi emphasized that the “seven-day” promise to inject US$50 million for immediate salary settlements was never fulfilled.
He noted that partial payments were delayed until late 2025, leaving many former employees in a state of “destitution.”
In contrast, GMWU General Secretary Abdul-Moomin Gbana defended the operator, stating that “Heath Goldfields hasn’t reneged at all” on its union-negotiated commitments, describing the remaining indebtedness as an inherited burden that the company is progressively liquidating.
Regulatory Lapses and Operational Integrity
Beyond labor issues, the petition raises alarms regarding the Minerals Commission’s oversight. The group alleged that mining leases were signed on December 13, 2024, despite the company failing to meet explicit preconditions set by the regulator a month prior.
Furthermore, the 120-day notice issued by the Minerals Commission in October 2025 to remedy lease breaches stemming from a lack of funding and development has reportedly expired without a final regulatory verdict, creating what the coalition terms a “regulatory vacuum” that endangers the asset’s future.
Operations at the mine remain a point of contention; while management speaks of “restoring the underground” and “Enriching Lives,” the petitioners point to a “mirage” of investment.
They claim that heavy equipment listed in the Strategic Mine Development Plan is absent from the site, and that the processing plant has seen only minor, salvaged repairs rather than the US$75 million overhaul publicized by the company.
These technical failures, if proven, would constitute a material breach of the original bidding terms.
Socio-Economic Impact and Amicable Resolution
The takeover has had a devastating human impact on the Bogoso and Prestea communities. The layoff of 400 workers has trickled down to local businesses, causing a contraction in the regional economy and leaving families without healthcare or educational support.
For many, the transition has been a repeat of the “operational and financial distress” seen under previous operators, leading to a profound sense of betrayal among the workforce who had hoped for a sustainable revival.
To resolve this matter amicably, the state must transition from passive observation to active mediation. An independent forensic audit of Heath Goldfields’ finances and its actual relationship with Yilmaden Holding is essential to restore transparency.
Furthermore, the government should facilitate a tripartite dialogue involving the Minerals Commission, the GMWU, and the Coalition to establish a binding, time-bound escrow account for all outstanding severance and pension payments.
Only by enforcing strict compliance with the 120-day remedy notice can the government ensure that the Bogoso-Prestea Mine serves the national interest rather than becoming a site of perpetual industrial unrest.
