Alliance for Gbane Development holds talks with Earl

Alliance for Gbane Development, a group of youth and senior citizens of Gbane Community have paid a courteous visit to Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited operations site.

The visit according to a lead member of the group, Victor Lolig was to commensurate with the company and aid in efforts to resolve the impasse between Earl and some small scale miners who fiercely resisted the sealing of their mining pits situated within the concession of the company.

The opposition of the miners who are operating illegally led to violent clashes with security forces, resulting in the death of one person, injuries and destruction of properties of Earl on March 15, 2024.

“We are here to commensurate with you on the unfortunate incident that occurred and to hear from you as a party in this issue, so that together we can all pull in our efforts to resolve this matter for it not to repeat again,” Victor Lolig said during the visit.

The group further disclosed that their visit is not limited to Earl but all parties and key stakeholders in the standoff.

“It is not only your company we are visiting. From here, we are proceeding to visit and meet our brothers who are the small-scale miners at their site to also hear from them and engage them on the best way forward to ending or resolving this issue. Our main aim is to ensure peace in our community – Gbane. As a registered group of citizens of this community, we are interested in the development of Gbane and nothing else. So, if there are issues that will put the name of our community in bad light and affect our growth and development, then we should be interested in ensuring that we get the best solutions possible”.

Victor Lolig clarified that Alliance for Gbane Development is not a pressure group but an advocacy organization that will adopt a more engaging and cordial approach towards addressing issues that affect the community.

Public Relations Officer of Earl, Ebenezer Bognaab commended the group’s step and approach which manifested in their decision to pay the company a visit and to engage management on the unfortunate March 15, 2024 incident.

Bognaab reiterated that a cordial relationship between Earl and the Gbane community is very crucial to the growth of the company and the development of the community, hence issues that are likely to affect the relationship are deemed sensitive. He stressed that the sealing of the mining pits was imperative on the score of safety and avoidance of mine accidents.

While acknowledging the efforts and concern of Alliance for Gbane Development, Bognaab stated that the doors of Earl International Group Ghana Gold limited are open to groups and organizations that will engage the company in a cordial manner to improve its operations and execute its community development plans.

“For you to even think of visiting us to commensurate with us and to further go and engage the other side, we are truly grateful. We have seen and heard what other groups have done and are still doing. As a company, we want to say that we are ready and open to engage those who would wish to engage us and respect our sanctity. If you take an antagonistic position against us and judge us before you even hear from us then we also would have a challenge engaging you. We are ready to have more of these engagements with you so that together we can achieve good things for the community and the company,” he said.

The round-table discussion also touched on job opportunities and the welfare of workers of the Earl.

Source: PR Department.