The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for a united front to revive the Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine, urging government, regulators, chiefs, and communities to throw their weight behind the turnaround effort being led by Heath Goldfields Ltd.
The appeal follows Heath Goldfields’ recent payment of ₵80 million to settle a large portion of the legacy debt owed to workers by the mine’s previous operators. The payment, which the union described as a “giant step,” has brought relief to affected workers and injected a fresh sense of hope into the embattled mining enclave.
But according to the union, the ₵80 million breakthrough is only the beginning of a much larger task. The mine, one of Ghana’s oldest, has endured years of financial distress and operational setbacks. “Reviving Bogoso-Prestea will take more than one company’s commitment,” the GMWU said, stressing that long-term success hinges on broad-based support.
In its statement, the union appealed to the Government of Ghana, particularly the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and regulatory agencies including the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work closely with Heath Goldfields in clearing remaining arrears, stabilizing operations, and supporting investment in the mine’s future.
The GMWU also turned to the traditional leaders and residents of Bogoso and Prestea, urging them to embrace the new management team’s efforts and “be partners in progress rather than bystanders.”
“The turnaround of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine under the management of Heath Goldfields Ltd will benefit not just our members but the entire nation,” the union said, underscoring that the mine’s revival will secure jobs, stimulate local economies, and boost national revenue.
The union’s leadership reaffirmed its own commitment to stand alongside Heath Goldfields, but emphasized that the task cannot fall on the company alone.
“We are committed to walking side by side with Heath Goldfields in this transformation journey,” the GMWU stated. “But we cannot do it alone. We need the government, chiefs, residents, and every well-meaning Ghanaian to back this effort so that Bogoso-Prestea does not just survive, but thrives once again.”
The statement concluded with a reminder that the future of the mine, and the livelihoods it sustains, is bigger than one union or one company. Reviving Bogoso-Prestea, the GMWU said, is a national project, one that, with collective effort, can be turned into a success story for Ghana’s mining industry.
