Accra, Ghana– The Ghana Mine Workers Union has given BCM Ghana Limited a stern three-day ultimatum to settle outstanding end-of-service benefits owed to over 700 former employees, warning of potential labor unrest if the company fails to comply.
The workers, who were laid off more than 10 months ago following the termination of their contractors’ agreements on February 28, 2025, have yet to receive their entitled redundancy payments and contract benefits despite repeated demands.Frustration boiled over as union members staged street protests, highlighting the severe financial hardships faced by the affected miners.
One worker, speaking during the demonstration, shared his plight: “We work for 7 years and waiting for our money for 10 months.” Another emphasized the urgency, stating, “Since February 28th, 2025, the contract came to an end. So they had to fulfill the promise… We cannot wait again. We’ve been waking up at dawn like 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 just to go and work.”
Abdul Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union under the Trade Union Congress, accused BCM of a lackadaisical approach to the issue. “Their response in our view has been quite lackadaisical,” Bana said. “There hasn’t been any sense of urgency for the past 10 months… It is pretty clear that this is an employer that is deliberately trying to shirk his responsibility.”
Gbana stressed that the owed benefits represent the workers’ “sweat and blood,” adding, “The money, the redundancy, the end-of-contract benefit is our sweat, is our blood. We work for it and for that matter every penny must be paid to us.”
The union has demanded full payment by Friday, with protesters gathering to pressure the company into immediate action.This dispute underscores broader concerns about workers’ rights and timely payment of entitlements in Ghana’s mining sector, a key pillar of the nation’s economy. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on BCM Ghana Limited to avert escalation into wider industrial action.No immediate response was available from BCM representatives at the time of reporting.
