Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources on Wednesday inspected the Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) in Awaso in the Western North Region.

The inspection was to acquaint himself with the situation on the ground following workers’ protests over low salaries and poor conditions of service.

The enraged workers set the Company’s vehicles, residential and offices ablaze on Tuesday, June 18, resulting in the temporary closure of the company.

Mr Jingkun K.Fang, the General Manager of the Company, who briefed the Minister, called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators to restore investor confidence.

Mr Fang said negotiations were on-going to resolve the salary disparity when the workers embarked on the protest and believed the workers’ action went beyond low working remuneration.

He said all the expatriate workers went undercover because they feared for their lives, while the Ghanaian Human Resources Manager escaped with his family

He said although the situation had calmed down, it was not safe to resume operations, adding that it was assisting the police in their investigations.

But speaking to the media, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister,Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh described the violent demonstration by the Bauxite workers as illegal per the public act law and called for further investigations into the matter.
He further called on the IGP to beef up security at the company to help restore sanity within the Awaso Bauxite Company and it enclave.

The Ghana Bauxite Company is operated by Bosai Mineral Group of China that owned 80 percent, while government of Ghana has 20 percent stake in the firm.