GCD workers demand payment of entitlements

Akwatia, May 25, GNA - Workers of the Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) Limited at Akwatia, have renewed their call on Government to pay them their salary arrears and severance benefits. The demand followed the sale of spillages at the company's abandoned number 12 treatment plant to a small-scale-miner, Ms. Evelyn Korang. Some of the aggrieved workers demonstrated outside the plant whilst workers of Ms. Korang were removing the spillages for washing, at the plant site at Akwatia. Spillages are gravels and tailing that fell off the conveyer belt of the plant.

There was heavy Police presence to protect the plant, Ms. Korang's workers as well as the demonstrators. Speaking to journalists, Mr. Raphael Wemang, Vice Chairman of the GCD Mines Workers Union, called on Government to as a matter of urgency ensure that the severance and other benefits of the employees were paid without further delay.

He said that since the partial closure of the mine in 2007, employees of the company had not been paid their severance and other entitlements as contained in their collective agreement. Mr. Wemang said that the situation had impacted negatively on the lives of the employees, their families and members of Akwatia community. He explained that the workers demonstrated against the sale of assets of the company including the spillages. The Akwatia District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nana Ekow Yawson, led the team of Policemen who ensured law and order at the plant site.

He said that last Thursday, he received a copy of a letter from the Union Secretary addressed to the management of GCD protesting the sale of spillages at the plant.

DSP Yawson said on Friday, Ms. Korang showed him a letter indicating that tailings and spillages within the plant site had been sold to her and she was authorised to remove them. The District Police Commander said that he organised a meeting between leadership of the GCD workers and Ms. Korang and her group to avoid any conflict when work begins.

DSP Yawson said that on Sunday morning he received information that the GCD workers were demonstrating and heading towards the site and he mobilised Policemen to maintain law and order at the company. Ms. Korang told journalists that she purchased the spillages for GHC 22,000 and had a permit to remove them.