8 Gold Fields Workers Could Be Charged for Unlawful Protest – Police

The Tarkwa Police Divisional Command has said the eight workers of Gold Fields Ghana who were picked up during Monday’s demonstration could be charged  for embarking on an unlawful demonstration.

The workers were protesting against management’s decision to opt for contract mining, which is expected to result in huge job losses.

Speaking to Citi News, the Divisional Commander for Tarkwa, ACP Edmond Ohene Bosompim, said the police had begun investigations into the matter and the suspects would be arraigned soon.

“They were arrested on Monday and by 5:30pm statements had been taken from them and they were released on police enquiry bail to appear in court.  We are gathering intelligence to find out if they could be charged for unlawful demonstration and if it is so, we will try to have a dialogue with the leadership so that the right thing could be done, ”he said.

The Third World Network has predicted a drastic change in large-scale mining in Ghana if Goldfields Ghana’s new mining plan is allowed to sail through.

Gold Fields Ghana Limited has announced that it will change its operational strategy from owner mining to contract mining.

The situation is to lead to the laying off of some one thousand five hundred (1500) workers at its Tarkwa mine.

The decision has been heavily resisted by the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union who have accused the company of acting in bad faith leading to the demonstration, after their court action to stop the move failed.

Gold Fields planned layoffs: Gov’t intervenes after workers’ protest

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, says government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with aggrieved workers of Gold Fields Ghana who have been protesting over the staff layoffs.

According to him, the MoU is to ensure that the workers of the company who will be affected by the redundancy programme are re-engaged under the new arrangement.

Source: Citifmonline