The Minerals Commission and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources have directed Heath Goldfields to immediately shut down all operations at the Bogoso Mine, effective June 24, 2025.
The shutdown follows a comprehensive review revealing extensive non-compliance with health, safety, operational, and legal obligations.
The shutdown order was issued by the Chief Inspector of Mines in accordance with Regulation 22 of the Minerals and Mining (Health, Safety, and Technical) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2182), due to serious health, safety, operational, and legal violations.
The company has been given 45 days from the effective date to address all breaches and to conduct only essential services under strict regulatory guidance. This decisive move follows a comprehensive review of Heath Goldfields’ operations, which revealed extensive non-compliance with its obligations, both technical and financial.
Despite receiving formal clearance from the Minerals Commission on November 13, 2024, to acquire the Bogoso-Prestea mining leases—after submitting a revised Strategic Mine Development Plan—the company has failed to initiate any significant activity on the ground. The plan had outlined a four-phase implementation strategy running through to 2039, starting with site preparation in early 2025.
However, a site inspection conducted on May 16, 2025, revealed alarming deterioration. No operations were underway, the Tailings Storage Facility was in poor condition, and the Process Water Treatment Plant was found non-operational. Illegal mining was also observed across parts of the concession, and no contractors were present at the site.
Heath Goldfields is also in breach of multiple lease terms, including the unauthorized transportation of gold-bearing concentrates without the required approvals from the Ghana Geological Survey Authority and the Minerals Commission—contravening Clause 7 of the lease. The company further defaulted on obligations under Section 1.18 of its Strategic Mine Development Plan.
The situation worsened when a group of employees petitioned the Minister over unpaid salaries and poor working conditions. This prompted a site visit by Armah-Kofi Buah on May 23, 2025. Subsequent investigations confirmed the company is experiencing serious operational and financial distress.
As a result, the Minister has directed the Minerals Commission to take appropriate enforcement action. In line with Regulation 200(3) of L.I. 2176 and Clause 27(b) of the Mining Lease Agreement, Heath Goldfields has been granted a 120-day remediation period to rectify all breaches. Failure to comply will lead to the revocation of the company’s mining license.