Citizens petition President over Bogoso–Prestea Mine lease to Heath Goldfields

A formal petition has been presented to the President of the Republic of Ghana, demanding an independent probe into the acquisition and operations of the Bogoso–Prestea Mine by Heath Goldfields Limited, over allegations of misrepresentation, failure to fulfil financial obligations, and regulatory breaches.

The petition, dated Monday, January 19, was submitted by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens–Bogoso Prestea and addressed to the Presidency, with copies sent to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). It questions the credibility of the process that resulted in the award of mining leases to Heath Goldfields in December 2024.

According to the petitioners, led by Gabriel Madobi—one of several workers laid off at the mine—the Bogoso–Prestea Mine, regarded as one of Ghana’s oldest and most strategic gold assets, was allocated to Heath Goldfields after the leases of FGR Bogoso Prestea Mine were terminated in September 2024 due to insolvency and failure to meet statutory and employee-related obligations.

Heath Goldfields was recommended by the Minerals Commission on the basis of its purported technical competence and claimed financial backing from Yilmaden Holding, the mining subsidiary of Turkey’s Yıldırım Group.

However, the petition casts doubt on Heath Goldfields’ status as a legitimate subsidiary of Yilmaden, noting that publicly available records of Yıldırım Group subsidiaries do not list the company. It further highlights that Heath Goldfields was incorporated in Ghana in February 2024 with a stated capital of GHS 10,000, raising questions about its ability to independently finance the mining operations.

At the core of the petition is the claim that Heath Goldfields failed to honour its stated pledge to inject up to US$500 million into the Bogoso–Prestea Mine, including an initial US$50 million intended to immediately clear workers’ salaries, statutory obligations, and urgent operational expenses.

The petition alleges that employee entitlements, which were to be settled within seven days of the lease award, were instead paid partially and stretched over almost a year, with several liabilities—such as severance packages, SSNIT contributions, Tier 2 pension payments, and portions of salaries—still outstanding.

It further alleges that the mining leases were granted on December 13, 2024, despite the failure to meet critical preconditions, including the payment of outstanding worker salaries agreed under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union.

The petition describes this as a significant deviation from the commitments outlined in Heath Goldfields’ Strategic Mine Development Plan, which reportedly gave the company a competitive edge over other bidders.

Additionally, the petition states that more than 400 workers have been laid off since Heath Goldfields took over operations, contradicting assurances that the company’s financial capacity would stabilise activities and safeguard jobs within the Bogoso and Prestea communities.

The petition also raises concerns about alleged failures to execute key capital investments and maintenance works for the processing plant and underground mining operations, despite the submission of detailed procurement plans and budgets to the Minerals Commission. Petitioners argue that the absence of essential equipment on site points to material misrepresentation during the bidding process.

In October 2025, the Minerals Commission is reported to have issued a 120-day notice to Heath Goldfields to rectify breaches of its mining leases, citing inadequate funding and failure to meet development obligations. The petition notes that, as of the date of submission, no final determination has been announced, even though the alleged breaches remain unresolved.

The petitioners are calling for a thorough investigation into the company’s ownership structure, financial capacity, regulatory vetting, compliance with lease conditions, and the status of employee entitlements. They argue that the challenges surrounding Heath Goldfields mirror the same operational and financial difficulties that led to the termination of the previous operator’s leases.

They are urging state authorities to take appropriate corrective actions to protect workers’ rights, safeguard national interests, and uphold the integrity of Ghana’s mining sector, pending the outcome of any investigations.

Mr Madobi, together with another coalition member, Philip Kofi, reiterated these concerns during an appearance on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, January 20, in a bid to prompt government action.

Responding on the same programme, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, countered the allegations, stating that Heath Goldfields has fulfilled its obligations.

“I must say that all the commitments the union has made with Health Goldfields, i.e., in respect of our members, all the payments that are supposed to be paid according to the memorandum of understanding that we have signed with them, Health Goldfields hasn’t reneged at all ”.

He explained that the outstanding indebtedness was a legacy issue and that Heath Goldfields has demonstrated commitment towards settling it.

When asked by the host whether Heath Goldfields has the capacity to operate the Bogoso–Prestea Mine, Mr Gbana responded, “As far as I am concerned, if you take a visit to the mine, you will realise that what has to be done has been done ”.

However, the Concerned Citizens maintain that essential consumables and other critical operational requirements have not been adequately implemented.

In a related development, Heath Goldfields Ltd stated in a press release on December 19 that it had paid a total of GHS 136 million to clear outstanding legacy liabilities owed to former workers of the Bogoso–Prestea Mine.

Management described the payment as part of a broader effort to resolve historical obligations while reaffirming its commitment to responsible mining practices and regulatory compliance.

The company added that the payment was made in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU).

Source: Joy News