On Monday, 16th September, miners from Future Global Resources (FGR) and Blue Gold, both in Bogoso-Prestea, held a protest at the TUC building, demanding unpaid remuneration and action against the companies.
Dressed in red, the protestors carried placards with messages such as “We Need Our Money,” “Who Will Speak for Us,“ “Hon Jinapor, ”Revoke the Licence of BlueGold,” “Land of Gold Turns Land of Sorrow,“ and “Prestea Deserves Better.”
The workers noted that they have not received their remuneration since April 2024, due to the companies’ financial struggles.
This protest follows a similar demonstration on April 25 and 26 2024 at the premises of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Parliament, where miners demanded the government terminate FGR’s mining leases and put the Bogoso-Prestea mine up for sale.
During the protest on Monday, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers Union, reminded the media of a promise made by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, during the April demonstration.
“The Minister assured workers that the government was committed to their welfare and the revamping of the mine,“ he said.
Gbana outlined the conditions set by the minister in an April 17 letter, which included the following: FGR was given 120 days to raise capital and restore the mines to full operational capacity; the company was ordered to pay all outstanding salaries within two weeks, with final payments due by May 30, 2024; FGR had to provide proof of financial resources to pay creditors and restart full operations within the 120-day period, and failure to meet these conditions would result in the revocation of FGR’s mining leases.
Despite these warnings, Gbana reported that FGR has not met any of the conditions.
“The company has neither paid the outstanding salaries nor secured the capital needed to reinvest in the mine to make it operational,” he said, adding that over nine months of salaries remain unpaid, leaving many workers in financial distress.
He urged the government to revoke FGR’s mining lease and find a new investor for the mine.
FGR took control of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine in September 2020 after acquiring 90% of Golden Star Resources’ stake. Despite concerns raised about FGR’s lack of experience and financial capacity, the deal was approved by the government.
In May 2024, Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited announced in a statement that it had acquired the Bogoso-Prestea mining leases from FGR, with a portion of the revenue earmarked to settle FGR’s creditor obligations. However, the financial troubles in the two companies persist, fuelling worker unrest.
