The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union has urged immediate reforms in the mining sector, warning that rising casualisation, outsourcing, and unresolved financial sector issues are jeopardizing the welfare of thousands of workers.
Speaking at the Union’s National Executive Council meeting in Accra, General Secretary Abdul-Moomin Gbana noted that despite record gold prices hitting as high as US$4,000 this year, workers are not seeing proportional benefits. He said mining companies continue to make “colossal” profits while increasingly shifting workers into insecure, non-standard employment.
“Over 90% of workers in the sector are now on temporary, casual, or fixed-term contracts. This trend is retrogressive and undermines worker protection,” Mr. Gbana explained. He attributed part of the problem to the misguided implementation of local content policies, which have encouraged outsourcing of core mining jobs under contracts that compromise job security.
Mr. Gbana commended Heath Goldfields Ltd for settling most legacy salary arrears at the Bogoso-Prestea Mine and for achieving operational readiness. He also called on government agencies, including the Minerals Commission and EPA, to expedite all necessary permits to facilitate production.
The union leader raised concerns about over 19,000 mineworkers whose life savings remain locked in financial institutions affected by the Bank of Ghana’s financial sector clean-up. He criticized the Central Bank for failing in its regulatory duty and demanded the full refund of all locked funds, warning of “severe consequences” if the government and BoG do not act promptly.
On broader mining policy, Mr. Gbana advocated for a gradual approach to increasing local participation through initiatives such as the Minerals Income Investment Fund’s small-scale mining incubation programme, rather than abrupt state takeovers.
He concluded by calling for unity within the union and reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights and welfare of mineworkers across Ghana.
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