Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency in the Western Region, George Mireku Duker has assured workers of Goldfields mines of a well deserved severance package and re-engagement by the private contractor.
According to him, he lacks the technical know-how in the mining field thus cannot dictate to management but is only seeking to ensure the affected workers are well compensated.
“The welfare of my people is my topmost priority so I want to make sure the workers get good severance and is also employed by the private company,” he stated.
READ: Gov’t to supervise Goldfields retrenchment exercise
The multinational mining giant has decided to layoff workers to enable it to hire a contractor to operate its biggest mine in West Africa.
Out of at least 2,300 workers expected to be disengaged, Goldfields has said more than 1,200 of them have “happily” signed the retrenchment letters.
But the protesting workers have dismissed the claim, alleging their colleagues were compelled to sign the letter with guns to their neck.
READ: Police blames Goldfields workers for bloody clashes
A protest organized by the workers to drive home their demands resulted in a bloody clash with a join police and military force leading to many injuries.
Reacting to the issue on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, Mireku Duker said discussion with the management of Goldfields about the future of the workers has been very fruitful.
He noted that, Goldfields is the biggest company which holds the economy of the Tarkwa community thus will not do anything to jeopardize its future.
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Hon. Duker, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Mines and Energy in Parliament appealed to the Ghana Mines Workers Union to join him in his bid to seek for the welfare of the workers.
“I want the union to join me so that we fight the cause of paying good severance to the workers” he added.
