Workers at the Gold Fields Damang Mines are planning a march to government offices to demand assurances regarding their livelihoods. This protest follows the government’s decision not to renew the mine’s lease after the shutdown date of April 18. Although the company claims to have engaged extensively with the relevant authorities, the government has rejected the application to extend the Damang Mining Lease. This decision has created uncertainty for more than 1,000 employees, putting their jobs at risk.
The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union has announced plans for action aimed at urging the government to provide clear provisions for affected workers and address the broader economic implications of the shutdown. In an interview with Citi Business News, the Union’s General Secretary, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, emphasized the need for the government to consider the potential economic disruption caused by the termination of leases. He stated, “If the government does not change its position, we will immediately lose our incomes and livelihoods. This situation may force us to march to the government to demand our salaries and livelihoods.”
He added that “Before you take a major decision of this nature you must be quite considerate and mindful of the implications of your decision so if government appreciates workers in excess of a thousand are likely to go through then government will be careful on how it exercise its discretion of whether to extend or not to extend.”
By: Emmanuel Oppong
