More than 400 former employees of Heath Goldfields Limited have accused the company of deception and betrayal after going more than a year without receiving their severance packages and other benefits.
The workers were dismissed following Heath Goldfields’ takeover of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine from Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited, but say the company has failed to meet its obligations despite repeated assurances and direct government intervention.
At a press conference in Bogoso, the aggrieved workers, led by Convener Gabriel Madobi Oklettey, said the company’s conduct amounted to “blatant disregard for labour rights and human dignity.” Mr. Oklettey said the workers were urged to “trust the process,” only to be met with delays and unfulfilled promises.
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The former employees said only partial payments covering portions of salary arrears and provident fund contributions have been made, while severance pay, bonuses, and other outstanding entitlements remain unpaid. They further accused the company of discrimination, alleging that some individuals aligned with certain union interests received preferential compensation.
The workers referenced a visit by Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah in May, during which he gave Heath Goldfields a 120-day deadline to settle all arrears.
They claim, however, that the directive has not been fully honoured. According to a petition presented at the press conference, “Without the Minister’s intervention, not a single non-unionised worker would have received any compensation.”
A memo issued by Heath Goldfields on August 27, 2025, reportedly committed to clearing all outstanding entitlements by the end of September. Yet workers say less than half of them have been paid, and a new memo has shifted the deadline to December.
Beyond labour grievances, the petitioners raised concerns about alleged operational irregularities at the mine. These include claims of unauthorised movement of gold-bearing materials and inadequate transparency in the company’s dealings with regulators and community stakeholders.
They also questioned the legality of the lease transfer from Blue Gold to Heath Goldfields, citing the absence of parliamentary ratification and other statutory approvals required under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). The petition said the lapse “undermines the credibility of the entire lease transfer process and raises serious concerns about due diligence.”
The former employees are calling on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and other relevant authorities to compel Heath Goldfields to settle 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 US$1 billion in damages over what it describes as “state-enabled expropriation.” The escalating dispute has heightened concerns about investor confidence and regulatory transparency within Ghana‘s mining sector.
