About five hundred youth from some communities in Birim North district in the Eastern Region on Monday demonstrated against mining company Newmont Ghana Gold.
The demonstrators claim Newmont Ghana has not fulfilled their promise of employing people from the communities.
They blocked the main road leading to the offices of the company as well as the mining sites in the area.
Speaking to Citi News, the leader of youth group , Seth Frimpong said Newmont Ghana’s promise to employ people from the area as well protect the environment has been a disappointment.
He further said Newmont was rather engaging people outside the community instead of the people within the community.
“In terms of employment when they posted the advert on the Notice Board people applied but they didn’t give them the chance to work,” he added.
He therefore called on Newmont to fulfill all promises it gave to the community.
In 2013, 240 workers of Newmont Ghana were laid off due to low price of gold on the world market and the escalating cost of doing business in Ghana.
Newmont in a bid to ensure efficiency also announced plans of laying off about 600 workers by June this year.
The Mine Workers Association, among others however criticized the decision, describing it as having no moral basis.
Newmont Ghana operates the Ahafo Mine in the Brong-Ahafo Region and the Akyem Mine in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana