Govt Committed to Developing the Bauxite Industry

By Chantal Aidoo

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Kwaku Asomah Kyeremeh, has assured Management of the Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) of government's commitment to ensuring the development of the bauxite industry.

For that reason, the government would beef up security at the Bauxite Company to ensure the safety of all workers of the company.

The Minister said this when he visited the GBC in Awaso, in the Western North Region, on Wednesday, to dialogue with the management and staff of the company, following a protest by the workers for improve conditions of service.

The staff of the GBC has been protesting over low remuneration and poor conditions of service. The staff is requesting for increment in their salaries but have not received favourable response from the local union of the company.

The Minister noted that the government was committed to the development of the bauxite industry and would, therefore, ensure that the staff work in good conditions and take living wages. He called on both Staff and management to return to the negotiating table and come out with a satisfactory remuneration.

Briefing the Minister, the General Manager of GBC, Mr. J. K. Fang, underscored the need for the government to help restore calm to the company as the protest had led to the shutdown of operations at the mining site.

He noted that the company had been negotiating with the local union of the company, hence, management had no idea the cause of the demonstration since conclusions had not been drawn yet.

The General Manager urged the government to help maintain calm so as to boost the investor confidence in the country.

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