Workers union rejects intended closure of mine

The Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the intention of Barnex Prestea Limited to close its underground mine at Prestea as a means of minimising its current losses. The GMWU recognises the fact that the closure of the underground operations and the retrenchment of 1,400 employees would impose a significant socio-economic problem in the Prestea area.

The Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the intention of Barnex Prestea Limited to close its underground mine at Prestea as a means of minimising its current losses. The GMWU recognises the fact that the closure of the underground operations and the retrenchment of 1,400 employees would impose a significant socio-economic problem in the Prestea area. Mr Robert Cole, General Secretary of GMWU said today that the intended closure of the mine needed to be handled with care as the action could have a serious impact on the company's ability to explore its surface concession to establish an open pit mine. Mr Cole called on the government to give serious consideration to the setting up of alternative viable economic ventures for mining communities with profits realised in the operation of mines. This is the only way to ensure the future survival of the communities when mining activities cease.