Bibiani (WR), June 8, GNA- "Ekom Ye Ya", a small scale mining company at Bibiani in the Western Region has sacked a 1,000 of its workers following the company's inability to obtain power from Bibiani to Donkoto Lineso, the mining site, a distance of about six kilometres. The initial work force was 1,500 but has reduced to 500 since the company was finding it difficult to purchase four drums of diesel a day to fill the company's generator.

Mr. Adu Gyamfi, the Executive Chairman of the mining company disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Saturday at Bibiani.

He said the generator was too weak to pump water from the underground to support its operation. The Executive Chairman said if electricity were provided, the Company would recall the workers and employ more. He expressed regretted that the laid-off had affected commercial activities at the mining site. Mr Peter Juben, Secretary of the Company, hinted that the situation had also affected production. He stressed that armed robbery, rape and defilement as well as theft cases were resurfacing in the area as more than 1,000 youth were out of employment.

Mr Juban, therefore, appealed to the Government to grant loans to small- scale mining companies to improve on their operations.