Railway workers in the country say they are in full support of the closure of the Ghana Manganese Company by the government.
Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asoma Cheremeh on August 5 ordered closure of the Ghana Manganese Company Limited until further notice, citing the company’s inability to fulfill its financial obligations.
He explained the situation has resulted in over 300 million-dollar loss of revenue to the State.
A joint statement issued Thursday by the Association of Railway Workers and the Association of Railway Senior Officers said although the closure will have a toll the railway company, it is critical that financial discipline ensured at the Ghana Manganese Company.
“We cannot begrudge the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for trying to instill financial discipline in any agency under its jurisdiction,” the statement said.
They however called on the Ministry to resolve the issues at the Ghana Manganese Company quickly.
“We urge the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and for that matter Government of Ghana to resolve the issue holistically as this closure has serious repercussions on the Ghana Railway Company Ltd and its workers as well as their families.”
Revenue from the haulage of manganese ore from Nsuta to the Takoradi Harbour for export leads to revenue generation, the railway workers noted.
They said revenue from the haulage is in turn used to pay workers of the Railway Company, hence the need for the government to speed up efforts to re-open the Ghana Manganese Company.
By 3news.com| Ghana