Bogoso Prestea mine workers demand justice as promises fall apart
Workers at the Bogoso Prestea Mine have accused government authorities and investors of abandoning them and failing to fulfil promises made over the past year to restore the mine and secure their livelihoods.
In a press release, the workers, operating under the name ‘Concerned Workers’, said they feel deceived, disappointed and worse off than before.
According to the workers, their struggles began after the termination of FGR Bogoso Prestea Limited, the previous operator of the mine.
Following months of industrial action and petitions to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, they were assured that a new investor, Heath Goldfields Limited, would take over and revive operations.
This intervention was supported by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission, which also announced the formation of an Interim Management Committee to oversee the transition.
However, more than a year later, the workers say those efforts have amounted to nothing and the situation at the mine has deteriorated further.
Mining Lease
The release says that despite assurances, Heath Goldfields has not been issued the official mining lease for Bogoso Prestea.
This, the workers allege, was confirmed by the current Minister of Lands and Natural Resources during a meeting with local chiefs, even though the company continues to present itself publicly as the legitimate leaseholder.
The workers say this has created confusion and deepened mistrust among the workforce and the broader community.
In addition to the administrative issues, the mine is reportedly facing serious operational challenges.
The workers say illegal mining activities are rampant, gold concentrate is being stolen, and critical infrastructure, such as the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), is becoming dangerously unstable.
They argue that Heath Goldfields lacks both the technical expertise and financial capacity to manage the mine and their continued presence has only worsened conditions.
The workers also accuse union leadership of turning a blind eye to their plight.
They claim that both union leaders and officials connected to the new investor are more interested in securing management roles and profiting from the alleged illegal sale of company assets than in safeguarding the mine or protecting workers’ interests. This, they say, has left them feeling abandoned and vulnerable.
The situation has forced the workers to reconsider their stance on FGR/Blue Gold, the former operators.
Although the company had its challenges, the workers now believe they are better suited to manage the mine, citing their previous investments and familiarity with the site’s issues.
They argue that it makes little economic sense for a new investor to take over a mine already burdened with debt and unresolved problems when that same capital could be used to build a new mine elsewhere.
Beyond the internal issues at Bogoso Prestea, the workers’ frustrations reflect growing tension in Ghana’s mining sector, particularly regarding government oversight and investor due diligence. After the 2022 Appiatse explosion, there was a national call for reform in mining safety and accountability.
Yet, years later, mining communities like Bogoso Prestea say they are still grappling with poor working conditions, unpaid salaries and broken promises.
Urgent intervention
The workers are calling on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, local chiefs and all stakeholders to intervene urgently.
They say they have endured long enough without salaries, formal employment letters and clear leadership.
More importantly, they stress that the current state of the mine poses serious environmental and safety risks to the entire community.