Police blames Goldfields workers for bloody clashes

Police in the Western region has blamed workers of Goldfields mines for the bloody clashes during a protest Monday.
According to the Regional Commander, ACP Edmond Ohene Bosompem, the workers began pelting the police with stones when they tried to avert any pandemonium.
Angry workers of the Goldfields mines hit the streets to kick against the decision by the management of Goldfields Ghana Limited to lay them off despite a ruling by a high court upholding the decision by management to lay off the workers.
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The unsettled staff of goldfields decided to protest against management for the decision to arbitrarily lay them off.
Some workers claim management of Goldfields has been coercing them with the military to sign the severance agreement.
Based on this backdrop, security personnel numbering about 200, a joint police and military force, however, interrupted the protest.
They were forced to rained terror on the protestors, firing rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd resulting in some injuries.
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But on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, ACP Bosompem dispelled reports that gunshots were fired at the workers.
He explained that, because the workers were throwing stones, the police was forced to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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The Tarkwa Regional Police Commander maintained that, the demonstration by the workers was illegal thus called on the leadership to follow due process.
ACP Bosompem cautioned the workers to seek permit if they intend to do another protest.