Aggrieved workers at the Bogoso Prestea mine demand urgent termination of Heat Goldfields’ mining lease, citing contractual breaches and months of unpaid salaries from December 2024.
They also allege that Heat Goldfields tampered with critical equipment, including the gold room and processing machines, and gold concentrates.
Meanwhile, Western Region Minister Joseph Nelson has summoned Heat Goldfields Management for further discussions at the Western Regional Coordinating Council.
The Bogoso Prestea Mine, whose mining lease was transferred from Future Global Resources (FGR) to Heat Goldfields in November 2024, lies abandoned with overgrown weeds and rotting machinery and broken tailings dam.
Workers claim the new company has failed to fulfill promises, with only 30 percent receiving basic salaries since December 13, 2024.
Workers claim that after the minister announced Heat Goldfields’ takeover, the company has failed to formally meet with them to establish its presence.
The workers are now urging the government to terminate Heat Goldfields’ lease and seek a more suitable investor.
“Heat Goldfields has failed to engage workers in the mining process despite taking over operations. We’re questioning the validity of their mining lease due to secrecy surrounding the issue,” one worker lamented.
Richard Amoah Baidoo is the Safety Officer at Bogoso Prestea Mine he said, “We’re urging the government to clarify who owns the Bogoso Prestea Mine lease and for that person to settle our outstanding debts, including salaries from 2023, SSNIT contributions, end-of-contract benefits, rent allowances, bonuses, and other entitlements so that there will be peace in the community.
Heat Goldfields’ Chief Administrator, Kwabena Ohene Obeng, dismissed the allegations, attributing the issues to existing court injunctions. “We’ve faced numerous lawsuits and injunctions hindering our work since taking over. While the plant does require refurbishment, plans are underway to address this.
Contrary to claims of neglect, we’ve had to navigate these legal setbacks. Fortunately, the injunctions have been dismissed, and we hope to make progress moving forward.”
Workers counter the Chief Administrator’s claim, noting that despite court injunctions, the company was able to access the site to tamper with key equipment, including the gold room and processing machines, and gold concentrates have reportedly been taken.
Richard Amoah Baidoo, Safety Officer at Bogoso Prestea Mine, questions the legitimacy of Heat Goldfields’ claims, “If there’s an injunction preventing you from operating, why were you still on site? An injunction would typically bar you from activities like sacking employees, removing gold concentrates, or instructing others to leave. Your actions seem to contradict the existence of such a restriction.”
But Kwabena Ohene Obeng, Chief Administrator, Heat Goldfields again explained that the gold concentrate and other parts they took were for testing purposes.
“Management decided to test the materials to understand their composition and determine the best course of action. This was done to ensure safety and control when refurbishing the plant and handling potentially valuable materials. The testing was solely for assessment purposes”. He noted.
To address the issue, Western Region Minister Joseph Nelson, along with Prestea Huni Valley MP Wisdom Cudjoe and Municipal Chief Executive Dr. Matthew Ayee, visited the mine site on Wednesday, May 14.
They later met with workers, promising government support in finding a lasting solution to the problem.
“The workers’ plight is dire – a year without pay, and the mine’s condition is rapidly deteriorating. Equipment is rusting, and urgent action is needed. As Regional Minister, I’ve listened to their concerns and will forward them to the relevant authorities for resolution,” he assured.
Mr Nelson added, “The current state of the mine raises serious questions about the new company’s commitment to reviving operations and benefiting the local community so as a Regional Minister, I have listened to their concerns, and I will channel it to appropriate quarters for it to be addressed”.
