Northern Ashanti Mines workers petition President Mahama to reopen mine

More than 400 employees of Northern Ashanti Mines Limited Company (NAMLC) have petitioned President John Mahama for his intervention following the closure of the Konongo mine. The workers submitted their petition through the Municipal Chief Executive for Asante Akim Central, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo, seeking a reversal of the October 22 shutdown executed by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). The closure follows a decision by the Minerals Commission to terminate the company's mining leases due to alleged regulatory breaches, a move that the company is currently contesting in court.

During the presentation of the petition, employees expressed deep concern over the sudden loss of their livelihoods and the manner in which the shutdown was handled. They reported that the NAIMOS operation was conducted with such haste that many staff members were forced to vacate the premises without retrieving their personal belongings. Beyond the immediate impact on the 400-plus workers, the petition highlighted how the mine’s closure has paralyzed local businesses and the surrounding community in Konongo, which depends heavily on the mine’s operations for economic activity.

Alfred Oduro, the Community Relations Officer for the mine, clarified that while the workers acknowledge the regulatory oversight of the Minerals Commission, they are calling for an amicable legal resolution that protects their jobs. The workers emphasized that the mine was in the middle of expansion, with a new processing plant scheduled for completion in early 2027. This project was expected to significantly boost local employment, a prospect that now remains in limbo as operations are suspended and the legal dispute continues.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the President, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo assured the workers that their grievances would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for consideration. He urged the miners to maintain peace and remain calm while the government reviews the situation. The workers remain hopeful that a constructive dialogue between NAMLC management, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Minerals Commission will yield a solution that ensures the mine's reopening while maintaining strict compliance with national mining laws.