Newmont ordered to pay entitlement to fmr. employees

A High Court in Sunyani has ordered the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) Ahafo Mine to pay all outstanding salaries to some employees it laid-off in 2009.

In addition, the Court presided by Justice D. K. Ofosu Quartey, directed the multi-national mining company to pay other allowances, benefits and entitlements to those employees.

The Newmont Ahafo Mine at Kenyase Number Two, in the Asutifi North District, Brong-Ahafo Region, sacked 11 employees in September 2009 for the alleged stealing of gold bearing materials, at the Ahafo Plant Site.

Nine of the dismissed employees, who were operators at the Engineering Department, however, filed a suit at the High Court to challenge their dismissal.

They are Messrs Alex Coleman Onumah, David Koomson, Emmanuel Atsiaku, Ernest Korang Yeboah, Fred Sarbah, Ebenezer Mills, Andrew Hayford, Isaac Kongetey and Isaac Boadi.

On December 18 last year, the court in its ruling, described the dismissal of the employees as “void, illegal and irrational”.

It ordered the company to pay one year salary at current levels as damages for defamation to the employees.

Mr. Mills, the spokesman of the group, told the GNA that the company had failed to comply with the directive.

He said the affected employees were going through hardships as they could not fend for themselves and their families.

Mr. Mills appealed to relevant organisations to intervene and support them to claim their benefits from the company.

When contacted, Mr. Kwame Agbeko Azumah, the Communication Manager of the Ahafo Mine, said the Legal Department of the Company was handling the matter, therefore, he could not comment on it.