The High Court in Kumasi has dismissed a compensation lawsuit filed by 500 former employees of AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited, bringing finality to a decade-old labour dispute over retrenchments carried out in 2013 and 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suit, Peter Eshun & 499 Others v. AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Ltd (Suit No. C12\/6323), was struck out on Monday, July 7, 2025, by Court of Appeal Justice Dr. Adusei Poku, who sat as an additional High Court Judge. The court upheld a preliminary legal objection by the mining firm, citing the statute of limitations as the basis for dismissal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Per Ghana\u2019s limitation laws, actions founded on contract\u2014such as claims for severance entitlements\u2014must be instituted within six years from the date of accrual. The plaintiffs\u2019 claims, filed in 2024, were deemed to have been lodged well beyond the allowable legal window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLitigation ought to see an end,\u201d remarked Justice Poku, referencing the Latin maxim interest rei publicae ut sit finis litium, which underscores the public interest in concluding litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fraud Argument Rejected<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lawyers for the plaintiffs, led by Nana Obiri Boahen with support from Asamoah Baffour Okyere Esq., argued that the six-year limitation period should be set aside due to alleged fraudulent conduct by AngloGold Ashanti, which they claimed delayed or concealed material facts concerning the retrenchment process.
However, the court found no credible evidence to substantiate those claims. Justice Poku held that the plaintiffs had failed to establish any fraud capable of tolling the statutory limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe court was not persuaded,\u201d he ruled, noting that mere allegations, without factual proof of deception, were insufficient to circumvent the law\u2019s time limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Labour Commission Decision Final and Binding<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The court also rebuked the plaintiffs\u2019 attempt to reopen matters already adjudicated by the National Labour Commission (NLC). Justice Poku clarified that decisions by the NLC can only be challenged at the Court of Appeal, not retried at the High Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citing page 15 of his ruling, he noted: \u201cThe statutory route to challenging a decision, order or direction of the Labour Commission is by way of an appeal to the Court of Appeal\u2026 The principle that there must be an end to litigation must be applied rigorously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legal Victory for AngloGold Ashanti<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ruling marks a significant legal win for AngloGold Ashanti and brings long-awaited closure to a lingering labour dispute tied to the company\u2019s operations in Obuasi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mining firm was represented by O.K. Osafo Buabeng of Osewuo Chambers, assisted by Appiahene Osei Akoto Esq. Their legal argument centered on the finality of legal processes and strict application of statutory timelines, both of which were affirmed by the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legal analysts say the decision underscores the critical importance of timely legal action and adherence to dispute resolution protocols\u2014particularly in cases involving contractual employment claims and retrenchment benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The High Court in Kumasi has dismissed a compensation lawsuit filed by 500 former employees of AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited, bringing finality to a decade-old labour dispute over retrenchments carried out in 2013 and 2014. The suit, Peter Eshun & 499 Others v. AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Ltd (Suit No. C12\/6323), was struck out on Monday,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[996],"class_list":["post-5416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-anglogold-ashanti","th-blog blog-single has-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"\n