The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union (GMWU) has commended Heath Goldfields for settling a staggering ₵80 million in legacy debt owed to workers. While the move is being celebrated as a major win for labour, critics argue it raises deeper questions about how such massive debts were allowed to accumulate in the first place. Some labour advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability, warning that financial cleanups must not distract from long-standing issues of job security, fair wages, and working conditions in the mining sector.
Background: Years of Uncertainty and Debt
The Bogoso-Prestea mines, once a prized asset in Ghana’s gold sector, descended into financial turmoil under previous leaseholder Future Global Resources (FGR). By late 2023, operations had virtually ground to a halt. Unpaid wages and entitlements piled up, electricity to the mines was cut off over huge bills, and communities were left anxious about their future.
In November 2024, the Government of Ghana intervened, reassigning the mining lease to Heath Goldfields Ltd. The new lease came with a clear condition: Heath Goldfields had to settle all outstanding indebtedness owed to workers by FGR.
However, the transition was far from smooth. FGR challenged the takeover, prompting months of investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and National Security. EOCO even froze the acquisition temporarily in December 2024. By February 2025, Heath Goldfields was cleared of any wrongdoing, and the path was opened for the company to begin its turnaround efforts.
The ₵80m Breakthrough
Despite inheriting a mine weighed down by legal wrangling and worker frustration, Heath Goldfields has now paid ₵80 million of the legacy debt, a move the GMWU calls a “giant step” toward fulfilling the company’s obligations and bringing relief to hundreds of affected workers and their families.
“This payment has undoubtedly brought relief to our members and their families,” the union said in a statement, praising Heath Goldfields for “honouring its commitments despite months of challenges meant to frustrate its investment plans.”
A Fresh Start for Bogoso-Prestea
Beyond the debt settlement, Heath Goldfields has assembled a team of young, motivated Ghanaian mining professionals tasked with reviving the Bogoso-Prestea mine and turning it into a world-class asset.
The GMWU has pledged its full support to the company, committing to work closely with management to see the remaining arrears cleared and the mine restored to productivity.
The union also called on government agencies, the Minerals Commission, the EPA, local chiefs, and the people of Bogoso and Prestea to back Heath Goldfields’ efforts, stressing that the turnaround of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine will benefit not only the workers but the wider Ghanaian economy.
