Mineworkers express dissatisfaction

Accra, July 18, GNA - The Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) of the Ghana Trades Union Congress on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction at the deplorable infrastructure base and the slow pace of development in some mining communities.

It said the trend posed serious doubts to the future of the next generation and their economic survival hence the need for an advocacy programme with the view to creating a drastic shift from the current situation.

Speaking at the 9th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Mine Workers Union, Mr. Prince William Ankrah, General Secretary of the GMWU, said the country must deepen its rules and regulations on investment which were part of the new flavour and challenge for business development.

He noted that social responsibility and community development initiatives began with a strong and competitive company. "Only a healthy enterprise can improve and enrich the lives of people and their communities while exceeding environmental standards and secured job," he added.

He observed that the trend over the last 10 years did not offer any clear indication of mining investment initiatives likely to benefit the wider mining communities and surrounding areas. Mr. Ankrah also raised concern about the extent to which certain positions that could easily be occupied by Ghanaians in the mining industries were offered to expatriates with questionable salary offers. "The quota offered to mining companies, in our view, requires a critical debate on a tripartite basis so as to ensure that qualified and talented individuals do not leave out of frustration to seek greener pastures elsewhere to the detriment of the country. "The 90:10 per cent ownership arrangement between foreign investors and the state in our view requires rethinking". The 9th Quadrennial Delegate Conference was on the theme: "Mining and Sustainable Development: The Role of the Social Partners".