Some aggrieved former workers of the Bogoso–Prestea Mine have appealed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to compel Heath Goldfields Limited (HGL) to pay all their outstanding entitlements.
According to the workers, despite the takeover of the mine from Blue Gold Bogoso-Prestea Limited, a successor to Future Global Resources (FGR), they were yet to receive their benefits months after their disengagement.
Addressing a press conference at Prestea in the Western Region, the Convener of the group, Mr Gabriel Madobi Oklettey, said more than 400 workers were laid off under the guise of operational restructuring after the company took over, but had still not been fully compensated.
He indicated that the unpaid entitlements included the 2023 annual bonus, end-of-service benefits, accrued leave, severance, and redundancy payments.
Mr Oklettey stated that despite clear legal provisions guaranteeing full payment of benefits upon termination, HGL had defaulted on its obligations.
He explained that in a memorandum dated August 27, 2025, the company committed to settle all outstanding provident fund contributions and other benefits by the end of September 2025. However, as of October 31, less than half of the affected workers had been paid.
According to him, a subsequent memorandum issued by the company on October 6, which extended the payment deadline to December 2025, reflected HGL’s weak financial position and lack of commitment to honour its obligations.
“The continued non-payment of workers’ entitlements has worsened the living conditions of affected families,” Mr Oklettey mentioned, adding that many of the former employees were struggling to meet basic needs such as rent, school fees, and medical expenses.
He appealed to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to intervene and ensure that HGL fulfilled its contractual and statutory obligations to the affected workers.
The workers also urged the government to initiate a comprehensive financial and operational audit of Heath Goldfields to ascertain its true financial standing and determine its compliance with the terms of its mining lease.
They further accused the company of selective recruitment and discriminatory treatment of employees, contrary to earlier assurances that all workers would be re-engaged after the restructuring exercise.
“The selective employment practices and delays in payment have deepened the frustration and hopelessness among affected families,” the statement continued.
Moreover, the group, however, commended the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for his intervention in May this year, which compelled HGL to make partial payments to some former employees.
They expressed disappointment, however, that five months after the minister’s 120-day ultimatum to the company, it had still not settled all outstanding entitlements.
“We appreciate the minister’s efforts to protect the rights of Ghanaian mine workers, but our patience has been stretched to its limit. Justice delayed is justice denied,” the group lamented.
The former workers warned that they would resort to legal action if their grievances were not addressed immediately, stressing that they had exhausted all internal channels for redress.
Gabriel Madobi Oklettey (third right) addressing the press. With him are other members of the group
Some of the aggrieved workers at the press conference
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
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