More than 400 workers of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited Company (NAMLC) have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and secure the reopening of the mine following its takeover by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The workers presented a petition to the Asante Akim Central Municipal Chief Executive, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo, on Friday, November 6, 2026, asking the government to consider the impact of the closure on their livelihoods and the surrounding communities.
Speaking on their behalf, the company’s Community Relations Officer, Amponsah Alfred Oduro, said NAIMOS took over the mine on October 22 and gave workers only three hours to leave the premises.
He said the short notice prevented some employees from retrieving their personal belongings, including items belonging to colleagues who were away on break and whose offices and bungalows were locked.
According to the workers, the closure has left more than 430 employees without income, affecting hundreds of households and thousands of dependents. They added that over 40 per cent of the workforce came from communities hosting the mine.
Local businesses, suppliers and transport operators have also suffered from the shutdown.
The workers said the mine was undergoing a major expansion when operations were halted. A new processing plant was scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2027, while 17 containers of equipment awaited customs clearance at the port.
They estimated that the planned facility could have generated more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The closure has also disrupted the company’s graduate traineeship programme, which had enrolled more than 40 Ghanaian graduates, with another 50 expected to join. More than 50 National Service placements planned for the 2026/2027 service year have also been affected.
While acknowledging the government's responsibility to protect natural resources and enforce mining laws, the workers appealed for a compassionate response to the concerns that led to the termination of the company’s mining lease.
They urged the President, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, traditional authorities, organised labour and civil society organisations to explore lawful options for reopening the mine.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the President, Rev. Dr. Aidoo promised to forward it to the appropriate authorities. He commended the workers for seeking redress through peaceful and lawful means and urged them to remain calm while their concerns are addressed.
