More than 400 employees of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited (NAMOC) have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama and key government institutions to intervene after the company’s operations were taken over on 22 October 2026.
The workers say the takeover has deprived hundreds of employees of their main source of income, leaving thousands of dependants facing financial uncertainty and hardship.
In the petition, presented by the company’s Community Relations Officer, Amponsah Alfred Oduro, the employees called on the President, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission and other relevant authorities to consult all stakeholders and identify a lawful route for the mine to resume operations.
They said employees were instructed to leave the mine premises within three hours, preventing several of them from collecting personal belongings from their offices and residential bungalows.
Workers who were away on scheduled breaks at the time were also reportedly unable to retrieve possessions left in their rooms, which had been locked.
Mr Oduro said the consequences extended beyond the workforce, affecting families, local businesses and other enterprises dependent on the mine’s activities.
“Behind every affected employee is a family that depends on a regular income to survive. Their children, whose education depends on their parents’ salaries, spouses and elderly parents who rely on their support, and households are now struggling to meet essential needs such as food, rent, school fees and healthcare,” he stated.
He said the effect had been especially serious in the host communities, which provide more than 40% of the company’s workforce.
“Local businesses, suppliers, transport operators and other service providers that relied on the mine’s activities have also suffered from the disruption,” Mr Oduro said.
The employees stressed that they were not asking the government to set aside mining laws or regulatory obligations. Instead, they want a constructive process to address the issues behind the termination of the mining lease while examining legal options for reopening the mine.
The petition also points to projects and jobs that were in development before the takeover. Construction of a processing plant was under way, with commissioning planned for the first quarter of 2027.
The facility was expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and boost economic activity in nearby communities. The company had also begun stockpiling ore for processing, while 17 forty-foot containers of equipment needed to complete the plant were at the port awaiting customs clearance.
The workers said the disruption had halted those plans and put future employment opportunities for young Ghanaians at risk.
They are seeking urgent discussions between the government and all relevant parties to resolve the outstanding issues and establish the conditions needed for operations to restart.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the opportunity to work again, earn an honest living and provide for the people who depend on us,” Mr Oduro said.
He also urged traditional authorities, organised labour, civil society organisations, community leaders and the media to support efforts to reach a fair resolution.
The workers said a lawful reopening would restore existing jobs, revive planned investment, create further employment and support economic activity in host communities.
