Gold Fields Damang workers to protest over lease termination

Workers at the Gold Fields Damang Mines are planning a march to government offices to demand assurances over their livelihoods, following the state’s decision not to renew the mine’s lease after the April 18 shutdown date.

Despite the company’s description of extensive engagement with the relevant authorities, the government rejected the application to extend the Damang Mining Lease, raising uncertainty for more than 1,000 employees whose jobs are now in jeopardy.

The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union says the planned action is intended to urge the government to outline clear provisions for affected workers and the broader economic implications of the shutdown.

Speaking to Citi Business News, the General Secretary of the Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, stressed that the state must be mindful of the potential economic disruption the lease termination could cause.

“As it stands now it is obvious that if government doesn’t change its position we will immediately lose our incomes and livelihoods but what that also means is that we may have to March up to government and demand our salaries and livelihoods from government,” he asserted.

He added that “Before you take a major decision of this nature you must be quite considerate and mindful of the implications of your decision so if government appreciates workers in excess of a thousand are likely to go through then government will be careful on how it exercise its discretion of whether to extend or not to extend.”