GMWU Exposes Govt Over Contract Mining Directive

Abdul Moomin-Gbana

The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU) has accused the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of making false claims that it had extensively consulted the Union over government’s new directives on contract mining.

The Union says no consultation has taken place despite two months of appeals for dialogue.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the leadership of the GMWU of TUC-Ghana, the Union said it had sighted a press release from the Ministry dated October 21, 2026, captioned “Government Issues Further Policy Directive on Contract Mining,” in which the Ministry claimed to have undertaken extensive consultation with the leadership of the Union.

“The GMWU wishes to state, unequivocally, that this claim by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in its press release of October 21, 2026 is factually inaccurate,” the statement said.

According to the Union, it petitioned the Ministry on August 20, 2026 after publicly expressing disagreement with aspects of the Local Content Policy, particularly on contract mining, citing exploitation, abuse, casualisation of labour and erosion of worker protections.

The petition called on government to suspend the directive and initiate a “genuinely inclusive, transparent, and good-faith stakeholder engagement process that places workers at the centre.”

The Union said over two months on, and despite repeated reminders, no practical steps had been taken to meet with it.

“It is therefore both misleading and unfortunate for the Ministry to suggest that extensive consultations have taken place when no such consultations had occurred as of the date of its press release. The Union consequently rejects this assertion and calls on the Ministry to correct the record,” it stated.

The GMWU, which represents over 15,000 mineworkers, stressed that it is not opposed to responsible participation of Ghanaian businesses in the mining sector, but is opposed to any policy that “transfers wealth from workers to contractors, weakens social protection, undermines decent work and violates workers’ rights.”

“Local content must create decent and sustainable jobs and provide opportunities for all Ghanaians. It cannot become a vehicle for exploitation to enrich a few contractors at the expense of the workers who risk and sweat day and night in the bowels of the earth to produce the wealth,” the statement added.

The Union also raised concerns about recent media engagements involving the Minerals Commission and government on contract mining and conditions of service, reminding the Commission that worker-related issues fall within the framework of collective bargaining regulated by the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

“The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union remains committed to working with other stakeholders to develop the industry and protect the interest of all stakeholders, including workers. Local content must promote national development while safeguarding workers’ rights, dignity, and livelihoods,” the Union concluded.

A Daily Guide Report

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