Officials from the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation – GIADEC – and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have paid a working visit to the Ghana Bauxite Company Limited, barely a month after violent protests by some workers of the company.
The protesters in their demand for an increase in wages torched a bungalow, vehicle and other properties belonging to the Bauxite Company in Awaso, in the Western North Region.
But, the company has since resumed operations after calm returned to the mines, producing at half capacity.
The delegation led by the Chief Executive of the GIADEC, Michael Ansah and Benito Owusu-Bio, a Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, toured the company to assess the level of damage caused by the rampaging workers.
The company’s administrative block, office equipment, among other properties were all destroyed.
A meeting involving the delegation, management of GBC, and the District Security Council agreed to collaborate to maintain calm, improve security and ensure the company returns to full production.
The General Manager of the Ghana Bauxite Company, J. K. Fang and his deputy, Lui Xin, expressed gratitude to the Omanhene, Nana Kwame Amponsah III, the District Security Council, together with representatives of the Construction and Building Materials Workers’ Union of TUC, for their enormous contribution to the restoration of peace at the mines.
GIADEC’s CEO, Michael Ansah, called for collaboration between management and the workers to ensure mutual gains and collective development of the Integrated Aluminium Industry.
Benito Owusu Bio affirmed government’s commitment to supporting healthy stakeholder relationship at the mines, to drive development and prosperity for indigenes.
The Omanhene, Nana Kwame Amponsah III, guaranteed GIADEC of his full support for their operations and the initiatives they are driving to ensure mining progresses and is continued in Awaso to the benefit of the community.
“We will continue to support GBC and its operations, so far as they have the development of Awaso in mind. We will find amicable solutions with the youth to ensure peace continues at the mines and workers are protected.”
