Aug 9, 2017
The Himan Students Union (HSU) of Prestea Huni-Valley District in the Western Region has given Golden Star Bogoso-Prestea Mining Company a one week ultimatum to address its demands for jobs in the company.
The students’ group has threatened to demonstrate against the company if it fails to heed to the demands to employ indigenes of its host communities.
Addressing a press conference at the weekend, Vice Chairman for the Union, Mr Kwabena Okyere, urged the mining company to adhere to section 2(J) of the Local Employment Agreement (LEA) on using engaging local labour.
The section states that “the company shall adopt a policy to provide preferential employment to community citizens when recruiting skilled workforce with the aim of increasing the percentage of community citizens in skilled workforce.”
“The youth in the community cannot find jobs, yet people from different parts of the country who are not directly affected by the operation of the company has dominated the workforce,” he stressed.
He said although the company continues to profit from its operations in the area, there is growing graduate unemployment as their hopes of jobs at the mines continue to fade.
He reminded the company that although it has a formal license from the government, the “social license” remains in the hands of the community people.
Golden Star, an established about 17 years, has been operating two gold mines in Wassa and Prestea, which are currently being developed into underground mines below existing open pit operations.
Golden Star Resources controls 90 per cent of the gold mine whiles the government has 10 per cent shares.
Meanwhile, the management of the company is said to have initiated moves to have the matter resolved.
According to Golden Star Community Affairs and Sustainability Manager, Mr Robert Gyamfi, the management has received a copy of the press statement, and would engage the students for a solution.
By Nii Adotey/adrdaily.com
