Tarkwa youth kick against Goldfields layoff plans

Some concerned youth of Tarkwa are up in arms against Goldfields Ghana Limited’s Tarkwa mines in the Western Region over attempts to dismiss over 2,000 workers. According to the aggrieved youth, the development could bring untold hardships on workers of the Goldfields Ghana Limited and, by extension, on the people of Tarkwa and its environs, thereby damaging the reputation of Tarkwa as one of the oldest gold mining sites in Ghana. They made this know at a press conference on Thursday. The regent of Tarkwa Bankyim, Nana Kwesi Itu II, in a statement, said they are against contract mining, which the company intends to venture into, since similar moves at Damang has since pushed many out of work. Therefore, they will not sit down unconcerned for Tarkwa to become a ghost town. He said they believe contract mining will only favour some big men in the company who will award contracts to their own companies. Their quest is to the company to accept ownership mining, which will create more employment for the people and avoid any lay off of workers. The youth have vowed therefore not to allow a handful of individuals to manipulate the system for their selfish gains. They further alleged that some people are pushing for the agenda to earn profit to support a futuristic political ambition while again pleasing the foreign owners as a loyalty card for promotional purposes. The concerned residents are therefore calling on traditional authorities, government, the opposition not to politicize the matter, but intervene to avoid future hardship on Ghanaians. By William Benjamin Peters|editors.3news.com|Ghana Follow @3Newsgh