Some excited workers of Heath Goldfields
The Bogoso-Prestea Mine, under the stewardship of Heath Goldfields Limited, has achieved its first gold pour after 24 months of complete stoppage.
According to Heath Goldfields, the milestone is not just a return to production, but a powerful symbol of resilience, determination and local leadership.
“From shutdown and uncertainty to molten gold flowing once again from our plant, this achievement marks the rebirth of one of Ghana’s most iconic mining assets,” the company noted.
The Managing Director of Heath Goldfields, Patrick Appiah Mensah, disclosed this during a media engagement to share updates on the company’s operations, its strategic direction and ongoing developments at the Bogoso-Prestea Mine.
He pointed out that when Heath Goldfields assumed stewardship of the Bogoso-Prestea Mine a year ago, it inherited a mine facing profound challenges.
“The Prestea underground mine was flooded and the tailings storage facility presented significant safety risks,” he said.
“The process plant was non-operational and severely compromised from a health and safety standpoint. The water treatment plant was not functioning,” he further revealed.
He continued, “employee salaries and entitlements were in arrears for several months. Utility arrears and other service providers amounted several millions of dollars.”
He disclosed that currently, over 1,400 people are directly and indirectly employed at the mine.
“Approximately 80 per cent of the workers are drawn from the company’s local catchment communities. More than 70 service providers are actively engaged, creating multiplier effects across the local economy,” he added.
The Managing Director indicated that the company’s dewatering programme removes approximately 10 million litres of water daily from the Prestea underground mines, adding, “Water levels have dropped by over 240 feet.”
Mr. Mensah also indicated that the company’s tailings storage facility has been stabilised and restored to safe operational condition.
“Additional works are ongoing to increase storage capacity, ensuring long-term operational sustainability while maintaining strict environmental and safety standards,” he stressed.
He told journalists that the company’s process plant has undergone structured refurbishment, including systematic replacement of critical equipment and infrastructure.
He said the mine roads and housing infrastructure have been rehabilitated to support safe and efficient operations.
Mr. Mensah added that to date, over GH¢139 million has been paid toward the settlement of employee legacy obligations.
“This was after we engaged the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union and entered into a structured settlement framework.
“This demonstrates not only financial commitment but moral responsibility, reinforcing our credibility as a responsible Ghanaian operator,” he pointed out.
He also mentioned that Heath Goldfields has secured all permits from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
He said, “Beyond operations, we are preparing to launch our Strategic Community Development Initiatives aimed at delivering legacy development projects in infrastructure, education, health care and enterprise development.”
He emphasised that the vision of Heath Goldfields is to make the mine a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic transformation in its host communities.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Bogoso