More than 400 employees of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited (NAMOC) have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and key government institutions to intervene in the circumstances surrounding the takeover of the company’s operations and facilitate a lawful resolution to enable the mine to reopen.
The workers say the October 22, 2026 takeover has left hundreds of employees without their primary source of income, throwing thousands of dependents into uncertainty and financial hardship.
In a petition presented by the company’s Community Relations Officer, Amponsah Alfred Oduro, the employees are urging the President, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission and other relevant authorities to engage stakeholders and explore avenues for the resumption of operations.
The takeover, according to the petition, followed a directive requiring employees to vacate the mine’s premises within three hours, leaving several workers unable to retrieve their personal belongings from offices and residential bungalows.
Some employees who were away on scheduled breaks at the time also reportedly had their belongings locked inside their rooms and have since been unable to retrieve them.
Mr Oduro said the development had affected not only the workers but also their families and businesses that depend on the mine’s operations.
“Behind every affected employee is a family that depends on a regular income to survive. Their children, whose education depends on their parents’ salaries, spouses and elderly parents who rely on their support, and households are now struggling to meet essential needs such as food, rent, school fees and healthcare,” he stated.
The impact, he added, was particularly severe in host communities, which account for more than 40 per cent of the company’s workforce.
“Local businesses, suppliers, transport operators and other service providers that relied on the mine’s activities have also suffered from the disruption,” Mr Oduro said.
The employees, however, insist they are not asking government to disregard mining laws or regulatory requirements but to adopt a constructive approach that addresses the concerns behind the termination of the mining lease while considering lawful options for reopening the mine.
The petition also highlights investments and employment opportunities that were being pursued before the takeover.
According to the workers, construction of a processing plant was underway, with commissioning scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
The facility was expected to create more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs while stimulating economic activity in the surrounding communities.
The company had also reportedly begun stockpiling ore in preparation for processing, while 17 forty-foot containers containing equipment intended for the completion of the plant were at the port awaiting customs clearance.
The workers say the disruption has stalled these plans and jeopardised employment opportunities for young Ghanaians.
The employees are now calling for urgent engagement between government and all relevant stakeholders to resolve the outstanding concerns and create conditions for the mine to resume operations.
Mr Oduro said the appeal was driven by the need to protect livelihoods and preserve future employment opportunities rather than secure special treatment for the company.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the opportunity to work again, earn an honest living and provide for the people who depend on us,” he said.
He further appealed to traditional authorities, organised labour, civil society organisations, community leaders and the media to support efforts towards a fair and constructive resolution.
The workers say reopening the mine through a lawful process would not only restore existing jobs but also revive planned investments, create new employment opportunities and support economic activities in the host communities.
They remain hopeful that government intervention and constructive engagement with all parties will provide a pathway towards resolving the impasse and restoring the mine’s operations.
By Ibrahim Abubakar
