MP for Prestea-Huni Valley Demands Probe into $120 Million Debt Scandal at Bogoso Mine
The Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley, Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, is calling for urgent government intervention and a full-scale investigation into what he describes as a major financial and regulatory scandal involving Future Global Resources (FGR), the company that took over the Bogoso-Prestea Mine in 2020.
According to the MP, FGR’s collapse in December 2023 left behind a staggering debt of $120 million, comprising unpaid statutory contributions, utility bills, and contractor fees.
He accused the company of failing to remit workers’ Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) deductions, defaulting on power payments to GRIDCo, and neglecting tax obligations to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), among other breaches.
“They deducted SSNIT from workers’ payslips but never paid it for three consecutive years. They also failed to pay for the power they consumed, ignored PAYE taxes, and neglected local contractors and statutory fees to the Minerals Commission,” Hon. Cudjoe revealed.
Describing the situation as “economic sabotage,” the lawmaker questioned the apparent regulatory failure by key institutions including SSNIT, GRA, GRIDCo, and the Minerals Commission, which he believes enabled FGR’s misconduct to persist unchecked.
He called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), and the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) task force to investigate the individuals behind FGR’s operations and their handling of the mine.
“This company mined gold, made profits, exported gold, and left the country without paying what was due. We must know who was behind this and how this was allowed to happen,” he asserted.
Hon. Cudjoe warned that the mine’s closure has had devastating impacts on local livelihoods and the constituency’s economy.
He appealed to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Armah Kofi Buah, to honour his recent commitments to the community and take immediate steps to restore operations at the mine.
The MP attributed the mine’s downfall to the previous administration’s poor oversight and FGR’s inability to meet the conditions attached to their operational approval—conditions which included maintaining mining activity, resolving debts, and paying workers and contractors.
He further expressed concern over the introduction of a new company, Heath Goldfields, just ahead of the 2024 general elections.
According to Hon. Cudjoe, instead of reviving the mine, reports suggest Heath Goldfields has resorted to deploying armed personnel to extract gold and valuable assets from the site, raising questions about legality and government oversight.
Additionally, he noted a worrying rise in underground water levels at the mine, warning that the situation—now exceeding safe operational limits—poses a serious threat to the mine’s future viability.
“These developments are disheartening and unacceptable. The Minister must treat this matter as a national emergency and act swiftly to protect the interests of the workers, the local community, and the state,” Hon. Cudjoe emphasized.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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