GMWU donates 16 million cedis to fire victims

Obuasi, Sept 27, GNA - The Obuasi branch of the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) is to consider how best to adequately cater for its members who become victims of domestic fire outbreaks and natural disasters in future.

Mr George Sankarl, the acting branch secretary of the union, said this when he presented cheques totally 16 million cedis on behalf of the national union to eight employees of AngloGold Ashanti whose personal belongings including that of their families got burnt in a fire outbreak at their junior staff quarters at Anyinam, a suburb of Obuasi. Already, the local union had donated two million cedis to the victims.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Mr Sankarl said, "this fire disaster has served as an eye opener to the branch union to think of how to address some of these disasters in future".

The acting secretary encouraged them to be steadfast and focus on their jobs, stressing that it was only through hard work and dedication that they could rebuild their future.

He announced that a fire disaster committee had been set up to raise some funds to cushion some of their problems.

Mr David B.G. Morgan, the spokesman of the fire victims, thanked the national executives for the donation.

He, however, appealed to the Obuasi branch to contact other companies operating in the municipality and elsewhere for assistance so that they could adequately support them since their problems were many.