The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is poised to revive the ailing state-owned mining company – Prestea Sankofa Gold Mines Limited (PSGL) in the Western Region.
A youth group in Prestea, calling themselves ‘Prestea Communicators for Development’ had expressed worry about the alleged failure by successive governments to revive the Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited, which has almost collapsed.
According to the youth, the company created jobs for Ghanaians, particularly the local people, and also generated revenue for the country.
They asserted that the company had collapsed due to mismanagement and huge financial malfeasance on the part of immediate past board of directors of the company.
During one of his campaigns in the Western Region prior to the 2016 general elections, the then presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was briefed about the situation, and he promised the people of Prestea that when given the nod, he would revive the company.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who is a member of the GNPC board, together with some management members of the company, recently met with workers of the company to deliberate on the current state of the company.
They also discussed how the GNPC could help get the company back to full operation.
Speaking to Takoradi-based SKYY Power FM, Nana Yaw Gyebi revealed that machines and equipment of the company were currently in bad state, and that the GNPC board would find a better way of dealing with the situation.
He stated, “The machines that have not been used for a period of three years would definitely be rusty but we have been given the assurance that they can be repaired”
He added that the GNPC was willing to take immediate steps to remedy the situation in which the company finds itself as soon as practicable.
The traditional ruler, who is also the president of the western regional house of chiefs, mentioned some of the measures that the GNPC had to put in place to salvage the current condition of the company.
He mentioned them as payment of salaries of workers and debts owed by the company, getting access to raw materials and providing good management for the company.
The strategy to deal with the challenges, according to Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, would take some period before immediate reforms could start.
“The assurance we have for them is that any measure we have to put in place to revive the company will be taken. We have to make sure every damaged material is repaired, workers are paid, and court issues with banks among others are dealt with”, he added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi