Africa-Press – Ghana. More than 400 former employees of Heath Goldfields Limited have accused the company of deceit and betrayal following the non-payment of their severance packages and other entitlements over a year after their dismissal.
The workers, who were laid off following Heath Goldfields’ takeover of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine from Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited, said the company has failed to honour its obligations despite repeated assurances and government intervention.
At a press conference held in Bogoso, the aggrieved workers, led by Mr. Gabriel Madobi Oklettey,
Convener of the Former Workers, expressed frustration over what they described as “blatant disregard for labour rights and human dignity.”
“We were told to trust the process, but the company has only deceived us and delayed justice,” Mr. Oklettey said.
The workers alleged that only partial payments covering portions of salary arrears and provident fund contributions had been made, while severance pay, bonuses, and other benefits remain unpaid.
They also accused the company of discriminatory practices, claiming that compensation was selectively paid to individuals aligned with certain union interests.
In May this year, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, visited the mine and issued a 120-day ultimatum to Heath Goldfields to settle all outstanding payments.
However, the workers say the directive has not been fully complied with.
“Without the Minister’s intervention, not a single non-unionized worker would have received any compensation,” the petition stated.
A memorandum dated August 27, 2025, from Heath Goldfields reportedly committed to settling all outstanding payments by the end of September.
However, the workers claimed that less than half of them have received their dues, and a subsequent memo has now pushed the deadline to December.
Beyond labour issues, the petitioners raised concerns about alleged operational irregularities at the mine. These include the unauthorized movement of gold-bearing materials and a lack of transparency in dealings with regulators and community stakeholders.
The workers also questioned the legitimacy of the lease transfer from Blue Gold to Heath Goldfields, citing a lack of parliamentary ratification and other statutory approvals.
They alleged that the takeover was executed in violation of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
“This failure undermines the credibility of the entire lease transfer process and raises serious concerns about due diligence,” the petition noted.
The former workers called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and other relevant authorities to compel Heath Goldfields to pay all outstanding entitlements.
They are also demanding a full audit of the company’s financial and operational capacity to manage the Bogoso-Prestea Mine.
Meanwhile, Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited, the previous leaseholder, has filed for international arbitration, seeking $1 billion in damages over what it describes as “state-enabled expropriation.”
The dispute has cast a shadow over Ghana’s mining sector, raising concerns about investor confidence and regulatory transparency.
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
