The Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) has secured an interlocutory injunction to restrain Asanko Gold Ghana Limited from laying off 299 permanent staff without payment of appropriate compensation due to all affected employees.

A writ of summons by an Amasaman High Court Order signed on April 22, 2022, indicates that the General Secretary of the Union, Abdul-Moomin Ghaba sworn affidavit in support of an application for the injunction on Asanko Mines' ongoing redundancy process without heeding the MoU signed earlier to guide the laying off processes.

The leadership of the Ghana Mines Workers Union (GMWU) says Asanko Gold Ghana Limited if not stopped, will lay off these affected workers without paying the redundancy benefits negotiated and agreed.

The MoU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated February 10, 2022, was signed by the Ghana Mine Workers Union and Asanko Gold Ghana Limited to finalize payments of redundancy compensations to workers affected after Asanko Gold Ghana Limited announced its decision to embark on a redundancy exercise on February 2022.

Under the MOU signed by both parties, paragraph one and ten require that:

1.       “a total of 299 permanent employees will be severed effective 31st March 2022 and paid appropriate redundancy packages in line with their applicable Collective Agreements, inclusive of the one (1) month notice required”.

2.       “payment of appropriate compensation due all affected employees shall be paid on or before 31st March 2022”.

The Mine Workers Union says the interlocutory injunction was necessary because, despite repeated calls for Asanko Gold Ghana Limited to strictly comply with the relevant provisions of the collective agreement and MoU, the mining company has neglected and bent on violating the agreement without recourse.

The next court hearing is dated 9th May 2022.