Aggrieved mine workers of Future Global Resources (FGR) in Bogoso Prestea, a mining company in the Western Region, have given the government two months to take over the mines and grant the concession to another investor due to what they say is a lack of investment and mismanagement of the mine, resulting in poor worker safety, and non-payment of workers’ SSNIT contributions.
FGR took over the concession of the mines located in the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region from Golden Star Resources in 2020.
Three years after the takeover, about 500 mine workers and host communities say their expectations of the mines improving have been dashed.
The mines, whose performance has not been satisfactory to workers, have experienced at least two major industrial unrest, resulting in a petition to the government by the sixth traditional leaders in the area over what they called poor management of the mine by FGR.
The leadership of FGR workers, who just resumed work after a 6-day sit-down strike over the mine’s non-payment of their statutory contributions and the non-provision of safety logistics to workers, told Citi News that the problem with the mine is a lack of investment and mismanagement. Hence, they are calling on the government to take over the mines.
A contractor who supplies fuel to FGR says FGR owes suppliers for about one year and therefore supports the calls.
The Gyaasehene of Prestea Himan, Nana Mutty Ankamah, speaking on behalf of the six paramount chiefs in the area who have already petitioned the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry to intervene, said FGR has not been transparent in its operations and has also denied the communities the benefits of Corporate Social Investments enjoyed by other mines.
The Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni-Valley, Wisdom Cudjoe, who met with the workers upon receiving a copy of the petition from the chiefs and the workers, told Citi News that he would write to the Speaker regarding the mines’ indebtedness.