Massive demonstration hits Goldfields

Hundreds of irate residents of Tarkwa, a mining town in the Western Region, yesterday staged a massive demonstration against Gold Fields Ghana Limited (Tarkwa Mine) over the company’s plans to lay off over 2,000 workers.

Gold Fields is currently embarking on an aggressive business option dubbed, contract mining, and has decided to lay off some workers.

According to reports, the company is embarking on the retrenchment exercise due to the current lifespan of the mine, which stands at between five and 60 years.

The workers have rejected reasons given by management of the company for their dismissal, calling on the government to intervene immediately.

The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has already kicked against the decision by the management of Gold Fields to retrench the workers.

According to some workers, this is the second time in three years that the mining firm has embarked on such a massive retrenchment exercise.

It would be recalled that a press conference was organized about two weeks ago by Concerned Youth of Tarkwa which pleaded with the government to call the company to order.

Yesterday, members of a group calling itself ‘Concerned Citizens of Tarkwa and its Environs’ marched through the principal streets of Tarkwa and ended at the premises of the Tarkwa Municipal Assembly where they presented their petition to the MCE to be forwarded to the President.

The petition was received by Babbie Anna-Nunoo, the Public Relations Officer of the municipality on behalf of the MCE who was not available.

She promised to forward it to the appropriate quarters.

The demonstrators, held placards some of which read “Contract Mining is Slavery,” Tarkwa is Gold Fields”, “Don’t Sack our Husbands”, “Gold Fields Management are liars” and “Sacking 2,500 workers will increase Unemployment” among others.

Addressing the people after the peaceful demonstration, the convener, Frank Woode, noted that while government was working hard to facilitate the creation of jobs for Ghanaians, multinationals such as Gold Fields were thwarting its efforts.

“Gold Fields is resorting to retrenchment of workers in exchange for super normal profits. This action, without a doubt, has serious consequences on the fight against galamsey not because it’s attractive but the people just want to make ends meet,” he added.

He continued, “Therefore, to allow over 2,150 workers and their families to be thrown in to an already choked economy at this time is most disastrous and suicidal.

“As inhabitants of Tarkwa, whose livelihoods depend largely on Gold Fields, we believe that the decision by the company to embark on the retrenchment programme is unfortunate considering the socio-economic impact on the workers and their families.

Mr Woode told the crowd that Gold Fields promised to invest $2.5 billion in both the Tarkwa and Damang Mines to increase gold production and employment.

“One year on, Gold Fields has the audacity to disregard its own obligations and promises and wants to resort to an insensitive retrenchment programme,” he asserted.

He indicated that time has come for Gold Fields to either develop the Tarkwa underground mine as originally planned or relinquish the underground asset to another investor to develop, create jobs and contribute to the growth of the country.

“We are of a firm conviction that the intervention by the President is extremely crucial,” he pointed out.