Ghana’s mining sector in near crisis – Haruna Iddrisu

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, says the country’s mining sector is in crisis due to the neglect of the sector by successive governments.

Referring to the current impasse between Gold Fields Ghana Limited and the Ghana Mineworkers Union, the Tamale South MP said much needs to be done to set the mining industry on the right path.

He was contributing to a statement on the floor of Parliament by MP for Abirem, Johnny Osei Frimpong on the Mining Development Act.

Parliament over the years has failed to ratify Parliamentary agreements on the Mining Development Acts.

Meanwhile the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, says government has signed a MoU with aggrieved workers of Gold Fields Ghana who have been protesting over some staff layoffs.

According to him, the MoU is to ensure that the workers of the company who will be affected by the redundancy programme are re-engaged under the new arrangement.

Gold Fields Ghana Limited in December 2017 announced it is changing its operational strategy from owner mining to contract mining.

The situation led to the laying off of some thousand five hundred workers at its Tarkwa mine in the Western Region.

Mr Amewu, gave the assurance that his outfit will do everything possible to solve the issue.