Abdul-Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers Union, launching the maiden miners week at TUC Hall in Accra
THE GHANA Mineworkers’ Union on Monday began the celebration of its maiden Annual Mineworkers Union Week.
The celebration, being held under the theme, ‘Integrating Labour and Community Interest for Socioeconomic Development,’ is aimed paying tribute to the union’s past members for their hard work and sacrifices; and the present members for their tenacity and loyalty throughout the years.
Delivering the keynote address, General Secretary of the Mineworkers’ Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, announced that the leadership of the union will institutionalise the annual week celebration in June every year to among other things, appreciate and celebrate the hard work and loyalty of members while developing and deepening intimacy; form new partnerships and strengthen existing ones; and create awareness and campaign on key issues relating to the mining industry and the Ghanaian society in general.
Mr. Gbana also announced that, “As our key signature and symbol for this maiden celebration, the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union is offering a unique ID card to every member plus a union fully funded insurance cover – including the member, spouse, two parents or two parent in-laws, and two children – under the Mineworkers’ Union Abusua Insurance Scheme as a special gift to all our valued members beginning August 1, 2021.”
“As the union inches towards a centenary amidst the increasing uncertainties in the future of work, the complex and unpredictable trade union terrain amongst others, trade unions such as the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union has very few options but to innovate in order to respond to these inevitable changes,” he admonished.
The maiden Annual Mineworkers’ Week begins on Monday, June 21 and ends on Friday, June 25.
As part of the celebration, a number of activities have been earmarked including hoisting of the union’s flags and distribution of paraphernalia to constituencies; paying of courtesy calls on key stakeholders, particularly in mining communities, and launching a campaign on the glaring infrastructural deficit in mining communities.
There will also be special donations to targeted institutions in the health and educational sectors within mining communities as well as interactive radio and television interviews with members and the general public.
The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union was established in June 1944 in Abosso, a few kilometres from Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana as a major and spontaneous response by miners at the time, to colonial domination and exploitation by their white expatriate bosses.
Currently, the union is the most representative trade union organisation in the extractive industry of Ghana, and has a membership of over 13,000 people.
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio