Do something about GCD before you go - Akwatiaman appeals to President

The people of Akwatia in the kwaebiberem District of the Eastern Region have appealed to President John Agyekum Kufuor to intervene to ensure that the 806 workers of the defunct Ghana Consolidated Diamond, (GCD) receive their outstanding seven-month salary on time.

The community said, “The GCD workers and their dependants and the entire Akwatia community are looking up to you to fast track possible solution to revive the dying company.

The collapse of the industry will spell doom for the Akwatia community and its environs.”

Speaking at a press briefing at Akwatia, Methodist Church Minister, Very Rev. Abraham Alex Otoo stated, “ the collapse of the Diamond Company at Akwatia during the tenure of office of the sitting President of Ghana will leave an indelible black spot on his outstanding, efficient and effective administration.”

The Christian and Muslim communities in Akwatia, the traditional council, the GCD workers and Akwatiaman in general organized the briefing.

The townsfolk clad in red and black demonstrated and carried placards, some of which read, “Mr. President, GCD workers have fasted for seven months (210 days) without food.”

Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Company (GCD) established in 1924 is the chief producer of diamond in the country.

It has a total concession of 185.35 square miles within the Birim diamond field and Kobriso Gold concession.

Historically, mining had brought economic benefits to Akwatia and its environs through which it earned its name as “The diamond town”.

However, GCD which is currently the only mine wholly owned by the state is now a shadow of past glory.

A visit to the site revealed that machines and equipment meant for the production of diamonds have been rendered obsolete over the years, bringing untold economic hardship on the community.

According to Rev. Otoo, many families are breaking apart as wives who cannot stand the prevailing abject poverty have left their husbands.

“Many of the workers have lost their reputation as responsible parents because they are unable to meet the financial needs of their families.”

He said government must seriously consider injecting working capital into the industry to enhance operation.

“The government must expedite action on possible divestiture of the company to a reliable investor of good standing.”

The Chief of Akwatia, Nana Osabarima Kofi Boateng called for change in management and the board overhauled.

He described as unfortunate the absence of a representative from the area on the board of GCD from time immemorial, saying, “Several petitions over the years have yielded no results.”

He said the company’s security is porous and are unable to take action against illegal miners. Nana Akwatiahene appealed to factions involved in the divestiture of GCD to do away with individual interests in order to attract right investors.

“GCD is the only mine and diamond mine belonging to government so the must take a critical look at it. If GCD should get the right capital like Anglogold Ashanti, it will prevent it from total collapse.”

He pledged the traditional authority’s readiness to collaborate with government to source investors to revive the company. Conspicuously absent from the press briefing were members of the management of GCD.

In fact, most of the workers complained about the adamant stance by the management in finding solutions, since the beginning of their predicament.

The community alleged that some individuals are engaged in illegal mining, (galamsey) in the area, which they said is a major hindrance to getting an investor to revitalize the company.

“Those people are deliberately sabotaging any attempts to save the company in order to continue with their illegal operations.”

The townsfolk also alleged that some of the illegal miners performed rituals by burying a live bull near the Birim River, after consulting a ‘juju man’ to prevent any investor from showing interest in the company.

For many years GCD’s large –scale mining production eclipsed artisanal diamond mining in Ghana. While there has been a steady decline in total diamond mining production in Akwatia over the past decades, small- scale diamond mining has increased exponentially in the area.

The primary driving force for the increase in artisanal mining activities in Akwatia was that GCD sold its mine concession to small-scale up miners. Besides that there are problems with illicit mining in the town.