The historic mining hub of Bogoso-Prestea is a powder keg ready to explode as hundreds of ex-workers and community members prepare for a massive demonstration on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Dubbed #Y’ABRE HEATHGOLDFIELDS DEMO, the protest marks an escalation in a long-standing dispute over unpaid benefits owed to over 400 ex-workers.

What began as a labour grievance has now transformed into a full-scale community uprising, with residents accusing the mining firm of "strangling" the local economy.

A Trail of Broken Promises

The aggrieved ex-workers claim they have been subjected to a psychological "merry-go-round" of shifting deadlines.

According to the Former Workers of Bogoso-Prestea Mines Union, Heath GoldFields (HGL) issued formal assurances dated August 27 and October 6, 2025, pledging to clear arrears.

However, those dates—along with subsequent promises for November and December—have all passed without payment.

“Heath GoldFields promised to pay in August, then November, then October and December but failed,” the group leaders stated, noting that the lack of a dedicated communication channel for separated workers has fuelled "uncertainty and frustration".

Contractors Unpaid

The ex-workers claim that HGL is facing a severe liquidity crisis, claiming the company has failed to pay three of its primary contractors for over three months:

• Local Contractors Mining Services Limited
• ENAS Engineering and Construction Limited
• Rockfield Mining and Construction Limited

This inability to settle contractor debts, the group argues, is proof that the company is no longer financially capable of sustaining operations at one of Ghana’s most significant gold concessions.

The ‘Litany of Debts’

The former workers are demanding a total settlement of a wide range of statutory and contractual obligations that have allegedly been withheld for months.

 The outstanding benefits include:

• Provident Fund (PF): Unpaid contributions and accumulated arrears.
• Severance & Redundancy: Compensation for those laid off during restructuring.
• End-of-Service Benefits: Vital life savings for ex-workers.
• Accrued Entitlements: Including leave pay and annual bonuses.

From Pickets to the Streets: The Government’s Silence

The upcoming January 6th protest follows months of unsuccessful diplomatic efforts.

The workers previously held a high-profile press conference in Accra and picketed at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission.

Despite presenting formal petitions to the authorities, the group feels the government has failed to act decisively against HGL. The #Y’ABRE protest aims to force a "total takeover" or a transfer of the concession to a more financially sound investor.

The Five-Point Ultimatum

In their latest petition, the organisers outlined five non-negotiable demands:

1. Immediate PF Payment: Settlement of all outstanding Provident Fund arrears.
2. New Investment: The restoration of the mine under a "financially capable investor."
3. Full Entitlements: Total enforcement of all statutory and contractual payments.
4. Benefit Protection: Safeguarding earned benefits for workers re-employed by HGL.
5. Sanctions: Clear compliance timelines backed by stiff penalties for any further default.