Court dismisses application by over 2000 Goldfields mine workers over retrenchment 

An Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by two thousand three hundred workers of Goldfields Company in Tarkwa. The application sought to put on hold, lay-off plans by the mining company. 

The Court presided over by Justice Laurenda Owusu, dismissed the request by the Mineworkers explaining that the company will be at a loss if the Court orders a hold on the on-going retrenchment exercise, before the determination of the substantive matter on whether the company acted within the law. 

According to Gold FieldsMines, the layoff is to enable the mining giant hire a contractor to operate its biggest mine in West Africa. 

The workers, supported by the Mine Workers' Union, rejected reasons givenby the company for the lay-off, and called on government to step in to resolve the matter. 

The aggrieved workers went to Court in December last year, insisting the company's move to lay them off is not backed by law. Meanwhile the Ghana Mineworkers Union has expressed shock at the ruling by the Accra High Court. 

Speaking to GBC’s Radio Ghana, its General Secretary, Prince William Ankrah described the ruling as surprising. 

He said the Union has already filed an appeal for stay of execution at an Appellate Court. 


Mr. William Ankrah said members of the Union are law abiding and would not do anything to disturb the peace that exists between Management and the workers. 

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