The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress has called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, to revoke the license of Future Global Resources Limited, the operator of the Bogoso Prestea Mines.
This appeal follows the Minister’s August 17 deadline, which required the company to meet specific conditions, including recapitalising the mine, to avoid license revocation.
The union has been critical of Future Global Resources Limited for failing to adequately manage the mine, including overdue salaries and unpaid SSNIT contributions since the company’s acquisition.
In a press briefing, Abdul Moomin Gbana, the union’s General Secretary, revealed that the company has yet to show sufficient financial capacity. He stated that the union might pursue further actions if their demands are not addressed.
“The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources issued conditional approval to the owners of FGR, in this case, Blue Holdings and the conditional approval was very clear. They were supposed to meet certain conditions beyond which, if they failed, the mining leases covering both Prestea and Bogoso would be revoked. Now, I chronicled the fact that they were supposed to raise the needed capital, not just raise capital, but get the mine back on track and running and this was supposed to be done within 120 days.”
“120 days expires on August the 17th and that is why we are saying that if by August 17th, once there has been a gross violation of the conditions that the Minister set out in his directive, the expectation is that the Minister will go ahead and cancel or terminate the mining leases. There are potential investors who are ready to invest and so we just do not get it. Why, after all these years, we still can’t come to terms with the reality, part ways with FGR and for that matter Blue Holdings and get new investors in.”
“If the minister himself does not take steps to ensure that his own integrity and the high office that he occupies should be taken seriously by proceeding to withdraw or terminate these mining leases, then the Union and the communities of Bogoso and Prestea will have no option. We will deploy every means possible to ensure that the place is up and running.”
By Kennedy Odame Twumasi
