Former employees of the Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine are expressing their outrage over unpaid wages. They have accused the current operator, Health Goldfields Limited (HGL), of blatantly disregarding Ghana’s Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) by not fulfilling legally required payments months after their employment ended.
During a press conference in Accra on November 19, 2025, Mr. Gabriel Madobi, the spokesperson for the distressed former workers, highlighted the severity of the situation, calling it a “direct affront to the dignity of hardworking Ghanaians and a serious legal violation.
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“He pointed out that Section 18 of the Labour Act clearly states that all outstanding remuneration must be paid immediately upon termination of employment. “Yet, despite directives from the ministry and repeated promises from Health Goldfields, most former employees have not been compensated,” Mr. Madobi stated.
The discontent among the former workers began after Future Global Resources (FGR) lost its lease on the Bogoso-Prestea Mine on September 3, 2024, due to multiple breaches of contractual obligations, including unpaid SSNIT contributions, Provident Fund arrears, unpaid bonuses, and delayed salaries. The workers initially welcomed this termination, hoping for relief after years of instability.
However, when the mine was handed over to Health Goldfields Limited on November 12, 2024, it was portrayed as a financially and technically capable operator that would stabilize operations, settle outstanding debts, and invest in revitalizing the mine. “We welcomed Health Goldfields with hope, believing our livelihoods would finally be restored. Unfortunately, that hope has not been realized,” Mr. Madobi claimed.
The former workers allege that Health Goldfields has not paid essential entitlements, including End of Contract Benefits, Outstanding Leave Balances, 2023 Bonuses, Provident Fund arrears, Redundancy, and Severance payments. A memo from Health Goldfields dated August 27, 2025, promised to clear Provident Fund arrears by the end of that month and to complete payments to laid-off employees by the end of September. However, by the time of the press conference, only about half of the affected workers had received their Provident Fund contributions. A follow-up memo dated October 6, 2025, pushed the payment deadline to December 2025, further diminishing trust.
The group also raised concerns about the thoroughness of the government’s vetting process before transferring the mine to Health Goldfields.
“Bogoso-Prestea deserves more than a temporary solution; it needs sustainable investment and long-term operational rehabilitation,” Mr. Madobi emphasized.
They urged the Minister to clarify the following questions: What level of capital commitment did Health Goldfields present before acquiring the lease? What proof of funding was independently verified by the government?
Source: Bugbila Moadow
