Information obtained by The Herald newspaper suggests that Heath Goldfields Limited’s operations at the Bogoso/Prestea Mine in the Western Region are under intense scrutiny amid allegations of regulatory breaches.

The company, which has ex-Minister of Finance Kwabena Duffuor as a Director, is also accused of making misleading public statements about its investments and progress at the site, which some sources describe as illegal mining.

Concerns have arisen about the company’s adherence to Ghana’s mining laws, especially concerning its possession of a valid Operating Permit as mandated by law.

According to Section (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), and Regulation 2 of the Health, Safety and Technical Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2182), which states that “a person shall not engage in mining or processing of minerals without obtaining an Operating Permit from the Chief Inspector of Mines.”

This provision emphasises that the Operating Permit is the final approval required before any mining operation can begin, even after obtaining other necessary approvals, such as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit and a Mining Lease.

This regulation is intended to ensure that mining activities meet all safety, environmental, and technical standards before operations begin.

Questions are therefore being raised as to whether Heath Goldfields Limited has fulfilled this critical legal requirement before undertaking activities at the Bogoso/Prestea Mine.

Sources close to the mining enclave alleged that the company, which forcefully took over the concession previously managed by Blue Gold, has failed to meet several regulatory and operational requirements.

Concerns have also been raised about its adherence to environmental and safety standards, as well as its actual financial and technical capacity to sustainably manage the mine.

Mining experts and local observers have accused Heath Goldfields of misleading the public with claims of massive investment inflows and major rehabilitation works that, according to them, have not been independently verified.

Some community leaders and workers have also reportedly expressed frustration over what they describe as poor engagement and a lack of transparency in the company’s dealings.

Close source from the Heath Goldfields Limited accused the company of engaging in public relations gimmicks and propaganda to create the impression that full-scale operations have resumed and all outstanding worker debts have been cleared.

However, fresh information obtained by The Herald paints a starkly different picture of the company’s current state of operations and financial standing.

Sources familiar with developments at the mine reveal that the underground workings remain flooded, with water levels reported at about 108 feet below the 18th level as of October 20, 2025.

Key mining zones between the 17th and 24th levels, along with vital installations, are said to be completely submerged. Aside from a few shaft attendants and maintenance technicians, no substantive mining activity is reportedly taking place at the Prestea Underground Mine (PUG).

Our source noted that at the processing plant, parts and components from the BIOS plant have been cannibalized and repurposed to repair sections of the Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) plant.

The move, the source claims, is aimed at creating the impression of operational progress to satisfy the Minerals Commission’s requirement to demonstrate milling within a 120-day window. The plant, however, is said to require major overhauls before it can function effectively.

The company is also accused of operating without the necessary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Operating Permits, while hauling free-digging material from the Bonday Shaft, a move that experts warn could worsen underground flooding.

Additionally, Heath Goldfields has allegedly commenced re-mining old tailings in violation of the explicit conditions set by Mine Inspectors, which required the construction or reinforcement of a new Tailings Storage Facility before such activities could resume.

Further allegations indicate that the company does not possess valid permits for the transport and use of explosives, rendering any blasting operations, both on the surface and underground, illegal.

Regarding workers’ compensation, only salary arrears accrued between February and September 2024, a period when the mine was non-operational, have been paid. Severance packages, management salaries instead of notice, provident funds, bonuses, leave liabilities, end-of-contract benefits, and repatriation entitlements reportedly remain unpaid to date.

Experts in the mining industry argue that Heath Goldfields’ handling of the Bogoso/Prestea Mine demonstrates a lack of technical competence and disregard for regulatory compliance.

They accuse the company of using publicity tactics to placate the host community and regulators while the mine’s infrastructure continues to deteriorate and the majority of its workforce remains unemployed.

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