Ex-workers of Goldfields angry over their severance pay

Takoradi, Sept. 28, GNA - About 700 Ex-workers of Goldfields Ghana Limited, who were laid-off in 1999, on Tuesday petitioned the company to pay compensation and severance packages due them. At a press conference at Takoradi, they said the company laid them off without paying them their entitlements.

The workers said the company gave them money ranging from GH¢100 to GH¢400 to go home because the world price of gold had fallen and promised to recall them when the price of gold stabilizes. Mr William Atenkah, leader of the ex-workers, said the company had failed to recall any of them and most of them were in difficult financial circumstances.

He said they had used many channels to address the problem but to no avail and they had also petitioned President Atta Mills but were yet to hear any response.

Mr William Atenkah, said although the leadership of the ex-workers and management of the company met with the Deputy Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosomtwi-Sam for an amicable settlement, little had been achieved. He said the previous Government failed to convince management of Gold Fields Ghana Limited to pay severance package due to the ex-workers of the company.

Mr Atenkah said although the company and the ex-workers had agreed on alternative employment of ex-workers, settlements of widows and the aged, none of these promises had been fulfilled. He said the ex-workers had therefore decided to go on demonstration to press home their demands on October 6, 2010.