The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asomah Cheremeh has asked the Bauxite Mining Company in Awaso to halt operations for now following violent protest by the staff.
On Monday aggrieved staff of the company, in demanding for good salaries and better working conditions, set vehicles and other properties of the company on fire.
Speaking on the Eyewitness News on Wednesday, the Minister said the security available to cover the field is not enough to safeguard everyone hence its advice to the company.
[contextly_sidebar id=”7wauUJsynN27HwvzNV8HeWBXNTpDobSW”]“We have assured the bauxite company that the confidence we have in them as the company doing bauxite is very high but for now they should exercise restraint from going back to the field as security on the ground is not all that safe. We have few police officers around there who will be needed to beef up security by bringing more security,” he said.
The Minister further said the government is engaging the workers to find a way forward and resolve the matter.
The aggrieved staff of the bauxite company in Awaso in the Bibiani–Anyaaso- Bekwai Municipality of the newly created Western North Region on Monday, set vehicles and other property of the company on fire.
They set ablaze several offices including that of the Human Resource Manager of the company.
The workers were protesting poor working conditions and meagre salaries.
This is not the first time workers of the Bauxite Mining Company had protested over conditions of service.
Some of the workers in March 2019 threatened to walk off the job unless their working conditions are improved.