AGC strike - crucial talks today

Accra (Greater Accra), 24th May '99 -

The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare has invited the Management of Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) and the Ghana Mineworkers' Union (GMWU) to an emergency meeting today, Monday, 24th May, over the crippling strike at the Obuasi mine.

Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni said in a letter that the Local Expanded Union and TUC should also attend the meeting at the Conference Room of the Ministry at 1000 hours.

The letter said the Ministry has followed with great concern the strike and the refusal of workers to heed appeals by the TUC and GMWU to return to work.

The Ministry is, therefore, calling the meeting "to help resolve the problem."

The management of AGC said on Thursday that Ghana loses 700,000 dollars in export revenue for every day that the strike at the Obuasi mines continues.

"More importantly, this situation cannot help government efforts at attracting investment into this country", it said in a statement issued by Mr James Anaman, General Manager, Corporate Affairs.

"There has clearly been a breakdown of law and order, a situation which cannot augur well for the development of the country", AGC said.

Meanwhile Right Reverend Dr Godfred Zormelo, Senior Bishop's Deputy of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, has appealed to President Jerry John Rawlings to personally intervene in the impasse between the management and striking workers of the Ashanti Goldfields Company(AGC) Limited.

Rev. Dr Zormelo said considering the key role AGC plays in the country's economic recovery programme, strenuous efforts must be made to thrash out all differences between the two sides without delay.

He expressed the hope that the personal intervention of President Rawlings would speed up the resolution of the differences for the early resumption of work in the mines.

Noting that the sector minister is scheduled to meet the two sides on Monday, together with TUC leaders on the impasse, Rev Zormelo said that the personal involvement of the head of state would "add more vigour to such efforts".

Closing a three-day youth convention organised by the leaders of the West Ghana conference of the church for about 800 youth drawn from various branches of the church in the Western Region, he warned that any further delay to resolve the problem might cause the nation dearly through damage to the company's heavy machines, in addition to the huge economic loss.

Rev. Dr Zormelo later led participants to say special prayers for the early resolution of the issue.