A coalition of concerned citizens has submitted a formal petition to the Presidency and several government bodies calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the acquisition and operations of the Bogoso-Prestea Gold Mine by Heath Goldfields Limited.
The petition, dated January 19, 2026, and presented by representatives including former mine workers, was addressed to President John Dramani Mahama and copied to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, the National Intelligence Bureau, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office. The group says it is seeking clarity on alleged irregularities in the lease award process and subsequent performance by Heath Goldfields.
Central to the coalition’s concerns is whether Heath Goldfields is genuinely affiliated with Yilmaden Holding, the mining arm of Turkey’s Yıldırım Group, as was represented in the company’s proposal to operate the mine. Public corporate records referred to in the petition do not list Heath Goldfields as a subsidiary of the Turkish conglomerate, and the petitioners argue this raises questions about the financial capacity underpinning the takeover.
The petition also highlights that Heath Goldfields was incorporated in Ghana in February 2024 with a stated capital of only GH¢10,000. Petitioners say this contrasts sharply with the company’s claims that it would inject up to US$500 million into the mine, including an initial US$50 million to settle outstanding worker liabilities and operational costs. They argue that partial and delayed payments to workers and outstanding statutory obligations suggest material misrepresentation in the bidding process.
Heath Goldfields assumed the mining lease in December 2024 after the previous leaseholder, Future Global Resources, was deemed insolvent and its leases terminated. The petition notes that more than 400 workers have been laid off since the takeover, and that payments promised to clear legacy liabilities were not made within the timeframes stated in the company’s Strategic Mine Development Plan.
The coalition also points to regulatory actions in 2025, including a 120-day notice from the Minerals Commission requiring Heath Goldfields to remedy breaches of its lease conditions, which petitioners say has not yet been resolved. They say this delay in enforcement further questions the integrity of oversight processes.
Heath Goldfields has issued statements indicating that it has made significant payments towards legacy liabilities. A press release from the company confirmed that it paid GH¢136 million to settle outstanding liabilities to former workers under a memorandum of understanding with the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union. The company described this as part of a broader strategy to address historical debts and align with regulatory compliance.
In response to earlier similar public concerns, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union said on national radio that the company has met its commitments under agreements with the union and that outstanding indebtedness reflected legacy obligations left by previous operators.
As of this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, or the Minerals Commission to the petition. It remains unclear whether any formal investigations have been launched in response to the coalition’s appeal.
Pending government action, the issues raised in the petition highlight broader tensions between mining investors, regulators, workers, and communities in and around the Bogoso-Prestea Mine. All parties quoted maintain perspectives on operational compliance and financial capacity that differ, and the assertions in the petition have not been tested in a court or adjudicative setting.