The leadership of the Ghana Mine Workers Union is firmly committed toward initiating programmes and projects that will ensure future security of members, their families and improve mining communities, General Secretary of the GMWU, Mr. Prince William Ankrah has assured.

He said the GMWU had gone beyond what he called, “the bread and butter stage of unionism” to critical economic ventures to encourage and sustain saving habits among members and their families.

Mr. Ankrah stated this at a ceremony in Obuasi recently where he cut the sod to begin the construction of an office complex for the Ghana Mineworkers Union Investments Unit.

The project forms part of the union’s vision to transform the GMWU Investments unit into a non-bank financial institution to be known as Golden Pride Savings and Loans Company, when it receives the Bank of Ghana licence to that effect.

The first phase of the project is estimated at US$500,000.00. The GMWU General Secretary challenged leaders whether in politics or business to be selfless and committed to adding value to improve the quality of life of their people.

He said the rapid changes taking place in the world called for leaders who would be bold to take initiatives to guarantee the future of their people, and not leaders who would be described as just occupying space.

Mr. Ankrah stressed that the Obuasi community was no doubt a major beneficiary of the pragmatic move by the GMWU to continue to motivate members to cultivate and sustain the habit of savings culture.

“The challenge staring the present generation is to ensure that their actions put a smile on the face of the next generation by bridging the gap between the haves and have-not,” he added.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Mineworkers Union Investments Unit, Mr. Robert Asamoah-Gyekye observed that the head office complex was enough testimony that the Union's Investments Unit was committed to undertaking other viable ventures that would create wealth in their areas of operation.

Mr. Asamoah-Gyekye revealed that a pilot welfare programme being operated by the Investments unit known as GMWU Support Scheme had for the past five years enabled the members to benefit from educational loans, acquisition of lands and vehicles and the elimination of dependence of union members and their relatives on illegal money lenders.

He said putting up the GMWU Investments Unit’s office complex in Obuasi was in recognition of the loyalty from the members of the GMWU in Obuasi and the support enjoyed over the years from the then AGC and now AGA, and from the current Managing Director and his executive team.

The Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr.John Alexander Ackon, praised the GMWU leadership for putting the resources of members into productive ventures for the long term benefit of all, especially the work force.

He described the sod cutting as a great opportunity for miners and their relatives to access credit at a more reasonable rate, when the proposed bank takes off.

He stressed the need for peaceful industrial harmony, especially with the union, mines management, the chiefs and people so that in unity they could initiate more projects to uplift the standard of living of the people.

The Industrial Relations Manager of AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi mine, Mr. Osei Afriyie, said the company made the land available for the project because the staff of the GMWU Investments Unit must operate in a conducive worker-friendly environment.

He expressed the hope that the proposed Golden Pride Savings and Loans Company would grow into a truly continental banking in the not too distant future.

The Secretary of the Ghana Mines Workers Wives Association, Mrs. Doris Appiah-Kubi said the union's initiative to transform its investment unit into Loans and Savings Company was a welcome relief because it would help women to secure funds to boost their businesses and contribute to supporting their wards' education.**