Nine suspected illegal miners have been arrested, and 23 changfans destroyed by officers from ‘Operation Halt’.
They were arrested along the Ankobra River at Prestea Nakaba in the Western Region.
The task force, consisting of over 100 soldiers was deployed last week to combat illegal mining activities across the Eastern, Central and Western Regions.
The operation is part of the government’s efforts to stop illegal mining [galamsey], which has caused widespread environmental destruction.
The task force also destroyed 33 grinding machines, 27 water pumps, 23 changfans, and three changfan boards all in the Prestea Nakaba area.
In a separate operation at Assin Asamang in the Central Region, the task force also destroyed 10 changfans and 7 water pumps, which were being used for illegal mining along the River Pra.
Additional equipment seized across the regions included grinding machines, water pumps and a locally manufactured gun.
Mine workers of the Future Global Resources Bogoso-Prestea Mines want the Minerals Commission to revoke the license of the company.
The workers say the mine has not seen any investment since Future Global Resources took over in 2020.
General Secretary of the Senior Staff Union of FGR Bogoso-Prestea Mines, Samuel Kumi Manu, in an interview, said management of the company has failed woefully.
“Since FGR took over, the mine was in debt of over $30 million but as we speak, the debt portfolio of the company has risen to over $100 million. And this debt includes indebtedness to workers. For the past two years, the company has not been able to pay SSNIT contributions to workers, the occupational working scheme from which workers are supposed to benefit,” he added.
The workers demonstrated on Tuesday, January 30, against what they say is the mismanagement of the mine, which they claim has affected productivity and the payment systems of workers.
The General Secretary of the senior staff union of FGR Bogoso-Prestea Mines, Samuel Kumi Manu, and other workers, speaking to Citi News during the demonstration, said the mine has not seen any investment since FGR took over in 2020.
“Since FGR took over, the mine was in debt of over $30 million but as we speak, the debt portfolio of the company has risen to over $100 million. And this debt includes indebtedness to workers. For the past two years, the company has not been able to pay SSNIT contributions to workers, the occupational working scheme from which workers are supposed to benefit,” he added.
The workers demonstrated on Tuesday, January 30, against what they say is the mismanagement of the mine, which they claim has affected productivity and the payment systems of workers.
The General Secretary of the senior staff union of FGR Bogoso-Prestea Mines, Samuel Kumi Manu, and other workers, speaking to Citi News during the demonstration, said the mine has not seen any investment since FGR took over in 2020.
They thus called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, to demand proof of financial capability from FGR to determine whether the mine should be taken from them.
“We want the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, to take action because we know on record that the minister has, on two occasions, issued ultimatums to FGR to show proof of financial capability. However, on both occasions, FGR has failed to comply. This implies that FGR does not have the means to operate the mine. Therefore, we expect the minister to intervene and transfer it to a credible investor who can inject financial capacity into the operation, as what we lack now is finances.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
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