By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Tarkwa (W/R), December 17, GNA - Mr William Ankrah, the General Secretary of Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU), has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider adding the mining industry to the Presidential Special Initiative programmes.
He said the “unpleasant picture in dysfunctional” mining communities such as Bibiani, Akwaatia and others were clear instances to worry about.
Mr Ankrah was speaking at the GMWU 12th quadrennial delegate conference which ended last Friday at the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa.
“The trend obviously needs a rethinking in respect of the future of mining townships. We can learn from other countries,” he said.
He listed those countries to include; South Africa, Australia and the United States of America, saying: “The history of California is indeed a choice to emulate.”
These, he said, were serious developmental issues they could not ignore in their strategic national developmental goals.
“The ugly and glaring infrastructure deficit must gain a centre stage in our national debate beyond the lamentation by successive governments. We need a concrete action to halt these embarrassments,” he added.
On the conference’s theme: “Celebrating 75 Years: The contribution of the mine worker to the socio-economic development of Ghana,” he said.
The relevance of the mine worker and the Union to the socio-economic development of the country comes in many folds.
"The union and its members supported many business decisions such as scaling down negotiated benefits, foregoing back pay, working on weekend without overtime payment among others in those trying times, even when the Union took a backlash from some disgruntled members, considering the long-term benefit of job sustainability," he said.
Mr Ankrah indicated that the most critical one was the Obuasi Mine temporary closure to allow for a thorough work to position the mine for subsequent expansion phase.
This, he said, was a tough one for the nation, but they facilitated the process smoothly through constructive engagement and “today the Obuasi Mine is back to life and contributing immensely to the coffers of the nation.”
The union, equally followed the initial struggles of ensuring a competitive productivity induced remuneration model in an attempt to improve the purchasing power of the Mine worker, he said.
He told the gathering that: “it is therefore no coincidence that we have over the last 75 years been able to change the welfare narrative of the mine worker from the poverty trap that characterized the life of the mine workers with no dignity in the colonial days to conditions that are the envy of almost all workers in Ghana presently.”
Mr Ankrah added that as part of their contribution to society, and making certain services readily available to their cherished members, mine workers together with the union pursued varying business initiatives aimed at diversifying its interest portfolio and also creating employment opportunities for the country’s teeming unemployed youth.
He said the union established two financial institutions, one insurance company and a small business, adding; the business wing of the union has employed about 130 workers and also paid corporate taxes.
He applauded members for their commitment and dedication in working hard to sustain the union.
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, said beyond gold, Ghana had other significant, but untapped mineral deposits.
He said the time had come for industry players to partner the government to adopt strategies that would not only exploit the resources but transform mining into a catalyst for the industrialisation and diversification of Ghana’s economy.
He implored the conference organisers to identify how they could leverage their resources for optimal socio-economic growth and development for the benefit of the populace.
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