Heath Goldfields Ltd has denied allegations by Future Global Resources Bogoso Prestea Ltd and Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Ltd (FGR/Blue Gold) over the revocation of their mining leases and the subsequent grant of mineral rights to Heath at the Bogoso-Prestea Mine.
In a statement, Heath described the claims circulating in sections of the media as “falsehoods and half-truths” aimed at creating public disaffection for the company.
According to the company, FGR acquired the Bogoso-Prestea mining lease in October 2020 but failed to sustain operations due to financial difficulties, leading to the shutdown of the mine in December 2023.
Between 2021 and 2023, the Minerals Commission cited FGR for repeated breaches of its lease, including failure to pay workers’ salaries and statutory contributions, inability to show proof of financial resources, and failure to inject capital to bring the mine into full operation.
Following several warnings, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, acting on the advice of the Minerals Commission and the Attorney General, terminated FGR’s lease on September 3, 2024.
The Ministry subsequently granted a new mining lease to Heath Goldfields in November 2024 after a competitive tender process.
Heath Gold stated that contrary to claims of wrongdoing, it has been working to revive the mine, which it said was left in a state of neglect. The company disclosed that it had re-engaged nearly 300 workers, invested over GHS 100 million in settling outstanding salaries and provident fund arrears inherited from FGR, and spent millions more on safety, infrastructure, and contractor payments.
The company also noted that legal challenges by FGR/Blue Gold have stalled parliamentary ratification of its lease, but two separate injunction applications filed by the former operators were dismissed by the High Court earlier this year.
Heath Gold maintained that it is working with the Minerals Commission and the Ministry to secure ratification before the end of 2025.
“Heath remains resolute and focused on reviving the mines to ensure that the good people of Prestea and Bogoso, and the nation at large, benefit as they should,” the statement added.
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