Over 400 Northern Ashanti Mines workers petition Mahama over mine closure
More than 400 employees of the Northern Ashanti Mines Limited Company (NAMLC) have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama through the Municipal Chief Executive of the Asante Akim Central Municipal Assembly,
Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo, to intervene for the reopening of the mine following its takeover by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
Speaking during the presentation of the petition to the MCE at the Asante Akim Central Municipal Assembly on November 6, the Community Relations Officer, Amponsah Alfred Oduro, said that after the takeover on Friday, October 22, staff were stranded after they were ordered to vacate the mine premises within three hours.
The workers indicated that the sudden development has left over 430 employees without their primary source of livelihood, plunging hundreds of households and thousands of dependents into hardship.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to protect natural resources and enforce mining laws, the employees appealed for a compassionate and constructive approach to address the concerns that led to the termination of the mining lease.
The workers also noted that over 40 Ghanaian graduates were enrolled in the company’s Graduate Traineeship Programme with 50 more undergoing onboarding, while over 50 National Service slots had been earmarked for the 2026/2027 service year, all of which have now been disrupted.
According to the employees, completion of the Processing Plant was expected to create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
They explained that the company was more than a workplace for many of them, as it provided for their families and future.
Receiving the petition on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the MCE for Asante Akim Central, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo, assured the workers that the petition will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for consideration.
He commended the workers for choosing a lawful and peaceful approach to seek redress and urged them to remain calm while steps are taken to address their concerns.
