Chamber of Mines condones racism - WACAM

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - The loud silence of Ghana Chamber of Mines over the 'Black Monkey' characterisation of Ghanaians by Harry Ferreira, a Security Officer of Golden Star Resources Bogoso/ Prestea Mines, makes the Chamber complicit of racism.

"The Ghana Chamber of Mines owes the Ghanaian public a duty to explain the reasons for its stance not to wade into the case, where an expatriate miner insults the dignity of all Black people," Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) said in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber.

The letter, which was signed by Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Executive Director of WACAM, was in response to an earlier one the Chamber wrote to the Association on the racist comments by Mr Ferreira. WACAM said: "Many Ghanaians are surprised that not a single statement in your letter condemned the racist statement of Harry Ferreira," adding, "the letter fell short of my expectation and that of many Ghanaians, since it failed to support a call for investigations into the serious allegation that Harry Ferriera described Ghanaians as 'Black Monkeys'.

Mr Ferreira, while in the employment of Newmont Gold Ghana Limited Ahafo Mine, referred to some workers as 'Black Monkeys' which made the Chiefs, youths and people of Kenyasi Number One, Kenyasi Number Two and Ntotroso to demonstrate against his continuous employment. Mr Ferreira was, therefore, forced to leave the country but managed to come back and got employed as Chief Security Officer of Golden Star Resources Bogoso/Prestea Mines.

When WACAM got wind of Mr Ferriera's engagement, it petitioned the Ministry of the Interior against his re-employment in Ghana.