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Former workers of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine on 30 October 2025, staged a massive protest in Bogoso, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding entitlements owed them by Health Goldfields Limited (HGL). The aggrieved ex-workers, clad in red and chanting protest songs, said their patience has reached its breaking point after enduring nearly a year of delays, unfulfilled promises, and inconsistent payment schedules since HGL took over operations of the mine. In a statement released on 31 October, the group accused HGL of “betraying the trust of Ghanaian mine workers” and disregarding directives from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to clear all arrears owed to former employees. “Our patience has been stretched to its limit. The time for promises has passed,” the statement read. Background: A Mine in Transition Once one of Ghana’s oldest and most productive gold operations, the Bogoso-Prestea Mine has endured years of turbulence and ownership disputes. In October 2020, Future Global Resources (FGR) acquired the mine from Golden Star Resources but soon ran into severe operational and financial difficulties, leading to repeated worker agitations and production halts. To stabilise the situation, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources revoked FGR’s lease in late 2024, reassigning it to Health Goldfields Limited (HGL). The new operator pledged to revive operations and settle all outstanding worker compensation. However, nearly a year later, former employees say those assurances have yielded only disappointment. Workers’ Allegations According to the protesters, HGL has since engaged in unfair labour practices, selective payments, and opaque financial dealings. They allege that gold-bearing materials have been moved off-site in violation of operational regulations. While some partial payments were made to select workers after a May 2025 intervention by Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the majority of former staff remain unpaid. “Without the Minister’s intervention, not a single non-unionised worker would have received any compensation,” the group stated. They further accused HGL of defying both moral and legal obligations, referencing Ghana’s Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which requires full payment of benefits—including salaries, provident fund contributions, accrued leave, and severance packages—after contract termination. An internal HGL memo dated 27 August 2025, reportedly promised full payment of arrears by September 2025, but the workers say that deadline was ignored. Demands for Accountability The group is now calling on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, and Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee to step in. Their key demands include: Immediate payment of all outstanding entitlements, including provident fund arrears, redundancy benefits, and bonuses. An independent financial and operational audit of HGL to determine its compliance with lease conditions and its financial capacity to operate the mine. The ex-workers argue that their plight represents a test of Ghana’s labour protection framework and the state’s commitment to justice for mine workers. “The dignity, livelihoods, and rights of Ghanaian mine workers must not be sacrificed at the altar of empty assurances,” they warned. Broader Implications for Ghana’s Mining Sector The impasse at Bogoso-Prestea has reignited debate over accountability and regulatory oversight in Ghana’s mining industry. Frequent ownership changes, poor communication, and weak enforcement of labour laws have left thousands of Ghanaian workers vulnerable to exploitation. Analysts warn that continued instability at the Bogoso-Prestea Mine could have ripple effects on local economies, as the mine has historically supported thousands of families in the Western Region. For now, the red-clad former miners say they will continue to raise their voices until their demands are met. “We gave our strength and our years to this mine,” one protester told Asaase News. “All we ask for now is what we rightfully earned.” Reporting by Isaac Hughes in the Western Region Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. 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