Suspended workers of mining company in Talensi appeal to Minister

Gbane (U/E), June 1, GNA - Five hundred suspended workers of the Shaanxi Ghana Mining Company Limited have appealed to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John Peter Amewu, to lift the ban to enable them return to work.

The Minister last month called for the temporary suspension of the company's underground operations to allow for thorough investigations into the alleged death of seven miners in the area.

However, the workers led by their Spokesperson, Mr Edusei Rockson, at a press conference organized in Gbane, pleaded with the sector Minister to expedite action in its investigation to pave way for them to return to work.

The workers said life was becoming unbearable for them and their families as many of them could not settle their children's school fees and provide for the upkeep of their families.

'We are pleading with the sector minister to expedite action in his investigation and to grant us permission to resume work. It is unfortunate that we have been pushed out of employment without any hope in sight. We want to emphasise that we together with our families and dependents want our work back and not the deportation of legitimate investors as it is being demanded by some uninformed groups within our community', the workers said.

The workers, who alleged that the suspension of work has paved way for illegal miners to invade the mining pits to steal ore, said this could cause the pits to cave in and collapse on the minors who were taking advantage of the situation.

They called on the authorities to ensure that the mining pits used by the illegal miners to gain access to the Company's concession are sealed.

The Chinese Shaanxi Mining Company has been providing mining support service to the Yenyeya and Pubortaaba small scale mining groups since January 2007.

GNA

By Samuel Akapule, GNA