More than 300 members of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union have demonstrated at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), demanding the release of funds belonging to about 19,000 mine workers whose monies have been locked up in BoG-regulated financial institutions since 2019.
The workers, under the umbrella of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), marched to the central bank to present a petition calling for urgent action to recover more than GH¢350 million they say is owed to affected workers and their families.
Presenting the petition, General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, accused the Bank of Ghana of failing to adequately protect the interests of workers whose funds remain inaccessible.
“We are demanding that the Bank of Ghana, which has the responsibility under its enabling Act to protect workers, takes action. Unfortunately, they have failed. We are demanding all our locked-up funds, in excess of GH¢350 million, belonging to 19,000 members and their families. We are demanding every penny from the Bank of Ghana,” he said.
The union says the funds have remained locked up since 2019 following challenges in some financial institutions regulated by the central bank.
The Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah, also joined the call for the Bank of Ghana and government to intervene to resolve the matter.
“The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, you are not here alone. You are here with the umbrella body, the TUC, and we are asking the Bank of Ghana and the government of the country to do the needful,” he said.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the Bank of Ghana, the Head of Legal assured the demonstrators that the central bank would consider their concerns.
“The Bank of Ghana remains committed to the financial stability of the economy. We will study your petition and address your concerns,” he said.
The Mineworkers’ Union is demanding a swift resolution to the matter, insisting that the affected workers and their families have waited long enough for access to their funds.
