A youth group at Akwatia in the Denkyembuor district of the Eastern Region has lauded government for appointing the former General Manager of Great Consolidated Diamonds Ghana Limited, Enock Baah as the firm’s CEO.

The group calling itself Concerned Youth of Akwatia (CoYA) say the new head of the mine is well cut out for his new role and can lift the dwindled image of the company back to its original glorious status. 

The group also wants President Akufo-Addo to disregard claims by the Akwatia Development Association (AkDA) that they are against the appointment. 

In a statement, General Secretary of the group, Yaw Opoku Agyei accused one of leaders of the Akwatia Development Association, Kwadwo Obeng Darko of having personal scores to settle with the CEO and has vowed to ensure the CEO is stripped off his appointment.

Background

Government sometime last year took over the operations of Great Consolidated Diamonds Limited (GCDGL) at Akwatia in the Eastern Region after the Jospong Group, parent company of GCDGL failed to successfully run the firm.

The Ghana Consolidated Diamond Company (GCD) was privatized to Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL).

The GCDGL took over the operations of Ghana Consolidated Diamond Limited on August 23, 2011, with the promise of investing $100 million over a five-year period to produce one million carats of diamonds every year within the period.

The company promised to create 2,500 direct jobs and 50,000 indirect jobs for support services.

But it was unable to start operations after six years and the previous management has left a huge debt.

The Managing Director of State Enterprise, Stephen Boateng on September 19, 2019, visited the Akwatia Ghana Consolidated Diamond Limited (GDCGL) to access the situation on the grounds.

He announced that government has taken over from GDCGL to ensure that state properties are protected.