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<\/p>\nSome residents of Tarkwa in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region today, [Friday] January 19, took to some principal streets of the town to protest against the decision by Gold Fields Ghana Limited to shift from ownership mining to contract mining.<\/p>\n
Gold Fields Ghana Limited has tabled its decision to hand over its operations at the Tarkwa Mine to private contractors.<\/p>\n
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The shift will see over 2,000 workers lose their jobs.<\/p>\n
The group calling themselves the Concerned Citizens of Tarkwa, early on in 2017, held a press conference at Tarkwa, calling on stakeholders, particularly Gold Fields Ghana Limited to rescind its decision.<\/p>\n
Leadership of the demonstrators accused Gold Fields of shortchanging the country after receiving juicy packages from the then administration in the spirit of expanding its operations to employ more of the teaming youth, as a result of the ban on small scale illegal mining.<\/p>\n
They say the company is defying the development agreement it signed to rather carry its operations in a manner that will see some 2000 workers go home.<\/p>\n
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Speaking to Citi News<\/strong>, convener of the Concerned Youth of Tarkwa, Frank Woode, pleaded with government to intervene, claiming the Gold Field’s move will affect livelihoods and increase crime in the municipality.<\/p>\n “Both past and present governments who have been concerned about fighting unemployment have tried to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive with the hope that these businesses will in return create jobs for the teeming youth.”<\/p>\n “It is in this spirit that the government of Ghana in March 2016 signed a development Agreement with Gold Fields Ghana covering it’s operations in Tarkwa and Damang Mines expected to run for 11 and 9 years respectively. This agreement reduced Corporate Tax for Gold Fields from 35 percent to 32 percent starting March 2016. Royalty rate was also changed from a flat rate of 5 percent of revenue to a royalty based on the gold price with effect from January 2017,” he added.<\/p>\n Frank Woode continued that “one year on, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, after these generous fiscal and other concessions which were aimed at making things softer for them to employ more people and expand its operations, is disregarding it’s own obligations and promises, and resorting to this insensitive retrenchment program which some 2,150 workers will lose their jobs and livelihoods”.<\/p>\n Mr. Frank Woode further warned that, government’s fight against illegal mining will be in jeopardy if Gold Fields Ghana Limited’s move is allowed to pass saying that, “The retrenchment action without doubt, has serious consequences on the national fight or campaign against illegal small scale mining, considering that most young people venture into galamsey not because it is the most attractive venture, but because they want to make ends meet. Therefore to allow over 2,150 workers and their families to be thrown into an already choked economy at this time is most disastrous and suicidal.”<\/p>\n