‘We were misled’ – Prestea-Bogoso residents accuse mine operator of broken promises

Communities within the Bogoso–Prestea catchment area have accused mine operator Heath Goldfields Limited of failing to honour key undertakings tied to the award of its mining leases, and have given the government 90 days to intervene as safety concerns mount over the mine’s operations.

At a press conference held on February 16, 2026, residents and opinion leaders said a 90-day ultimatum issued to the company on December 29, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, requires it to remedy what they describe as breaches of its lease obligations.

According to a statement presented at the event, the mining leases were granted on assurances that Heath Goldfields had access to more than 500 million dollars in funding and possessed the technical capacity to restart operations, particularly at the capital-intensive Prestea Underground Mine.

The communities said the restart of underground operations formed a central basis upon which regulatory approval was granted.

They alleged that undertakings relating to underground dewatering, ventilation, equipment rehabilitation and production ramp-up have not been met within agreed timelines, thereby affecting operational readiness. The statement added that processing plant components and underground infrastructure presented in the company’s mine development plan as ready for procurement and installation have not been delivered.

“These were not aspirational statements. They were firm assurances used to secure regulatory approval. Their non-delivery confirms that the company’s operational and financial readiness was materially misrepresented,” the statement read.

Beyond operational concerns, the communities raised alarm over the safety of the mine’s Tailings Storage Facility. They said the facility has reached full capacity with no freeboard, meaning there is no remaining safe margin between the tailings level and the crest of the dam.

They warned that active deposition is continuing in the facility, posing environmental and public safety risks to downstream communities including Dumasi, Bogoso and surrounding settlements should a failure occur.

According to the statement, financial constraints have affected contractors Rockfield and ENAS, who were engaged to raise and stabilise the dam, resulting in delays and reduced progress on the works.

The communities also expressed concern over planned blasting activities in sections of the open pit mine close to residential areas such as Bondaye and Nakaba. Citing the Minerals and Mining Explosives Regulations, 2012, which prescribe a minimum 500-metre exclusion zone between blasting operations and occupied buildings, they urged strict compliance to prevent fly rock, ground vibration and structural damage. They further called on the company to prioritise the restart of the Prestea Underground Mine.

“We state clearly and without hesitation that the facts emerging from operations indicate that the government, Nananom and the host communities were misled,” the statement read. “Detailed financial projections, equipment schedules and funding assurances were presented to regulators to obtain approval of the mining leases. Once those leases were secured, the undertakings were not honoured.”

While emphasising that they are not opposed to mining or investment, the communities called for an investor with the financial and technical capacity to operate the mine sustainably. They said the area had endured repeated shutdowns, job losses and environmental challenges and could not withstand another collapse.

The statement was jointly signed by Mr Karim Salifu, NDC Constituency Chairman; Mr Ebenezer Somuah Otchere, a native of Himan; Mr Shaibu Dimbie, Assemblyman for Anfagya Nakaba; Mr Messiah K.A. Baidoo, a native of Dumasi; Mr Awal Mohammed of Votoleaf; Mr Gershun Bulley, an indigene of Prestea; Mr Ebenezer Ayinam, an indigene of Bondaye; and Mr Franklin Abban, an indigene of Bogoso.

They urged the government to act within the 90-day period to protect jobs, safeguard the environment and restore public confidence in the management of the Bogoso–Prestea Mine.