Ghana terminates license for Bogosa-Prestea Mine
The government of Ghana has cancelled mining license for Bogoso-Prestea Mine. This follows a series of complaints regarding the deteriorating working conditions and non-payment of wages and benefits to over 1,000 workers.
Future Global Resources (FGR), the UK-based company that acquired a 90% stake in the mine in 2020, failed to meet its financial obligations and invest in the mine’s development, resulting in serious operational and environmental issues.
Concerns
FGR’s failure to pay wages and pensions since January 2024, and their inability to address the mine’s infrastructure and environmental degradation, including pollution and the flooding of key shafts, prompted the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) and other stakeholders to petition for the cancellation of the mining license. Their concerns were further exacerbated by neglected safety measures, including poorly maintained tailing storage facilities and a processing plant in disrepair.
The ministry of lands and natural resources, after reviewing reports and engaging with stakeholders, officially terminated FGR’s license on 18 September 2024. A caretaker team was appointed to oversee the mine’s operations, while the government seeks new investors to restore production. The GMWU, an affiliate of IndustriALL, supported the termination and pushed for FGR to settle outstanding wages and benefits, emphasizing the need for job protection and compliance with environmental laws to safeguard the local community. This decision marked a significant victory for the GMWU and the affected workers, who had threatened further protests if their demands were not met.
