ACCRA, April 27 – Ghana’s mineworkers union has warned it will continue to resist a government policy requiring international mining companies to hire local contractors, raising concerns over wages, job security, and labor protections.
The union’s president, Abdul Moomin Gbana, said the regulation is already harming workers, as local contractors tend to offer lower pay and fewer employment guarantees compared to international firms.
The union, which represents around 14,000 workers, has threatened strikes and protests if the policy is enforced in its current form.
The government of Ghana, Africa’s top gold producer, introduced the rules as part of broader reforms aimed at increasing local participation in the mining sector. Companies have been instructed to shift key operations such as blasting, hauling, and dumping to local contractors by December 2026 or face sanctions.
Major global mining firms including Newmont, Zijin Mining Group, and AngloGold Ashanti are among those affected by the directive, with many already taking steps to comply.
Under regulations introduced in January 2025, surface mining must be conducted by fully Ghanaian-owned firms, while underground operations must involve companies with at least 50% local ownership.
Mining executives have criticized the policy as anti-business and potentially unlawful, arguing that it conflicts with existing mining laws that allow leaseholders to determine how operations are carried out.
The union shares these concerns, warning that increased reliance on contract mining could reverse years of progress in labor protections. Gbana said the changes could have a “huge impact on workers,” particularly in terms of wages and job stability.
The union has formally petitioned the country’s mining regulator and lands ministry, calling for a review of the policy. It also warned that any attempt to proceed without changes would trigger “strong, coordinated and sustained resistance.”
The standoff highlights the growing tension between efforts to localize economic benefits in resource sectors and the need to maintain labor standards and investor confidence.
