Police combat former Normandy mine workers

Yamfo (B/A), Sept. 3, GNA - A section of the Sunyani Police led by the Regional Commander Mr. Opare Addo on Friday morning had to fight hard to control aggrieved former workers of Normandy Gold Limited who blocked the Yamfo-Zongo road to prevent vehicles of Newmont Gold Limited from moving to convey workers of the Company (Newmont) to Kenyase for the day's work.

The former workers, who formed part of the ex-Normandy 130 workers laid off since 2000 were alleged to have been armed with stones, sticks and other missiles and started throwing them at the police who were called in by the management of Newmont to handle the situation before it got to uncontrollable level.

When the police arrived at the scene around 0700 hours they met the workers in a tence mood but to ensure law and order the police advised them to calm down and remove the blockade but the advice fell on deaf ears.

In the midst of the confusion, the police were compelled to give warning shots to dispel the aggrieved the ex-Normandy workers who had then converged at where they had blocked the road, throwing any missile they could come by at the police.

Nana Ansah Adu Baah II, Omanhene of Yamfo, narrating the incident to the Press alleged that in the process, a stray bullet hit three of the aggrieved former workers one of them whose name was only given as Dauda, having his intestines gushing out.

Nana Baah said in view of the serious condition of Dauda he was rushed to the Sunyani Regional Hospital by a police vehicle and is still on admission.

The Regional Po lice Commander told the press that three police men also received serious injuries.