Kenyasi youth demonstrate against gold-mining firm

Kenyasi (B/A), Oct 7, GNA - Irate youth from Kenyasi Numbers One and Two numbering over 200 have embarked on a violent demonstration in Kenyai against Newmont, a gold mining company operating in the area, for what the youth described as the company's unfair treatment.

The demonstration, which began at noon on Monday, persisted till the following day with the protestors mounting six barriers at vantage points in both towns to prevent vehicular movement into the towns. The youth, dressed mainly in mourning attire and red band, chanted their readiness to continue the protest till their grievance was fully addressed.

A spokesman for the angry youth who wants to remain anonymous told the GNA that management of the mining company is not being sensitive to the plight of the unemployed youth of the area.

He said the company has made it a policy not to employ the local people in spite of the adverse effects their operation has on the environment and agriculture. More

The spokesman cited a case in point where four Kenyasi boys who were engaged by a sister mining company, GEOSEARCH, to work at Yamfo in the Tano District were driven away by the people of Yamfo on grounds that Yamfo has equally capable youth to be recruited by the company. The demonstration is therefore, meant to inform NEWMONT that the youth of Kenyasi could also provide sufficient labour force for any company. demonstration.

The respondents however, deplored the violent stance the protest has assumed.

The Member of Parliament Asutifi North, Mr Paul Okoh, expressed disappointment at the refusal of the youth to give audience to their traditional leaders, the MP and the District Chief Executive.

Mr Okoh appealed to the angry youth to exercise restraint and to channel their grievance through the appropriate channel for action. At NEWMONT premises the Camp Manager, Mr Joe Collins, described the protest as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the company's cordial relations with the town.

He showed a document that indicated that 70 percent of the company's labour force at Kenyasi comprises people from the town with Kenyasi Number Two having 67 workers, Kenyasi Number One, 26 and Ntotroso eight.

Mr Collins refuted the protestors' claim that the company has not been fair to the people of Kenyasi saying his outfit has never relented in taking cognisance of the people's interest when drawing action plans. He lauded the high professional standards of the Kenyasi Police in preventing several attempts by the mob to manhandle them.