March 12, 2018//-Workers of Goldfields Ghana Limited at the Tarkwa mine today embarked on a demonstration over what they say is the termination of their contract by management of the company.
This, was after an Accra High Court dismissed an injunction application filed by the Ghana Mine Workers Union to stop Goldfields from switching to contract mining.
The union argued that about 1,500 workers will lose their jobs if the company is allowed to switch from owner mining to contract mining.
But the High Court dismissed the application, explaining that the mining company risks losing more.
Under contract mining, the company will outsource some aspects of its operations to private companies who may engage the workers on contract basis.
In an interview with Citi Business News, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, Prince William Ankrah said he is positive the demonstration will make the company listen to the views of the workers.
He stated that all efforts to get the management of Goldfields to sit with the workers for an amicable solution has failed.
He pointed out that, the company started issuing letters to the workers, terminating their contracts soon after the court ruling.
“The fact that management has ruthlessly resorted to cohesive measures using military presence to force the employees to sign letters is not right,” he said.
Mr. Ankrah argued that the workers have the right to demonstrate since the management has refused to engage them in taking the decision.
“Members pay dues so if you want to take that right from them as employees, and threaten them, then on that bases they will get the reaction that they are getting from us today. That is why we are demonstrating,” he said.
Calling on government to intervene, Mr. Ankrah stated that government must step in to address the issue since it affects the livelihood of over 1,500 Ghanaians
“For now we hope that they are called to order by government” he stressed.
Citibusinessnews
