The Ghana Mineworkers Union of the Trade Union Congress has refuted claims that some 500 junior staff of Newmont Ahafo and Akyem have resigned from the union to join another union.
Some media reports were indicating that the staff had shifted camp to become members of a union calling itself the Extractive Industry Workers’ Union.
TUC stressed that the said union is only an enterprise-based union whose jurisdiction does not go beyond the senior staff within Newmont Ghana Gold Limited itself.
Meanwhile, a press statement signed by the General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana stated that “The Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU) of TUC (Ghana) has read with utter dismay some media reports touching on the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union which are attributed to a so-called enterprise-based union in Newmont Ahafo, calling itself the Extractive Industry Workers Union, led by one Victor Asare Gyapong, as Executive Director.”
The statement stated “without any equivocation that the said Victor Asare Gyapong behind such media reports is only a disgruntled member of our union and a one-time local union Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union in Newmont Ahafo who failed on two different attempts after contesting the position of the National Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union. Since his failed attempts, he has decided against every advice and caution to embark on a journey targeted at undermining the union’s united front including his failed attempt to appropriate the local union structures, members, and offices of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union in Newmont Ahafo to himself.”
Source: citibusinessnews.com