The story of the Prestea-Bogoso Mine, once marked by despair and uncertainty, is taking a new turn as Heath Goldfields takes bold steps to restore operations and revive livelihoods in the community.
Managing Director of Heath Goldfields, Patrick Appiah Mensah, disclosed that the company has so far invested close to 75 million dollars in cash payments and committed resources to equipment and materials to bring the mine back to life.
Speaking during a tour of the mine in Prestea, in the Western Region, he explained that extensive refurbishment works are underway to prepare both the process plant and underground facilities for production.
“At the process plant, we are testing pumps, checking power supply installations, replacing weak structures, and refurbishing the tailings facility to ensure adequate space for deposition once production begins,” he said.
He further noted that underground operations are being enhanced with new pumping systems to drain excess water and improve safety.
He indicated, at the same time, dialogue is ongoing with community leaders and stakeholders to address illegal encroachment on active mining concessions.
Mr. Mensah also stressed the importance of rehabilitating the Shilling Dam, a facility where the final waste from mineral processing is deposited. When Heath Goldfields took over, the dam had been neglected with large volumes of water sitting on it, posing serious safety concerns.
“The risk here is that too much water weakens the structure of the dam, and if that continues, it can fail and affect everyone who lives nearby,” he explained. “Today, you can see it is almost dry because we have pumped it out. This means we have restored the safety and integrity of the dam.”
The company has set clear timelines, with testing of the process plant equipment scheduled for the third week of September and production expected to start by early October. Underground mining is also planned to resume by the first quarter of next year.
On employment, the Mine’s Operations Manager, Samuel Buertey Hadjor, revealed that Heath Goldfields has adopted a phased recruitment strategy, with priority given to former workers.
“At this stage, we are employing around 130 to 140 workers, but when we move into full production, we are looking at close to 1,200 employees,” he said.
Mr. Buertey Hadjor appealed for continued government support, acknowledging the backing of the Lands Minister, the Chief Inspector of Mines, and other agencies.
Some residents of Prestea welcomed the revival of the mine and shared their excitement to Angel News’ Nana Fynn.
Muhammad Atta, a resident, said the company’s intervention is a blessing, pointing to the payment of outstanding worker benefits, restoration of power, and environmental improvements.
He also urged the company to consider allocating supervised small-scale mining concessions for the community.
