The Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling on the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to facilitate the immediate payment of more than GH¢380 million owed to over 19,000 mineworkers whose funds remain trapped following the collapse of several financial institutions.

The union says the affected monies were held in institutions that went under during the financial sector clean-up undertaken by the central bank.

It has cautioned that the prolonged delay in retrieving the funds could heighten tensions within the mining sector and undermine industrial peace.

Speaking after presenting a petition to the Bank of Ghana, the union’s General Secretary, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, expressed concern about the central bank’s response to the issue.

He said workers who entrusted their savings to financial institutions regulated by the Bank of Ghana should not be left to suffer the consequences of those institutions’ collapse.

Mr Gbana maintained that the central bank has a duty under the BoG Act to safeguard depositors and must therefore take steps to settle the outstanding claims.

He said the union was demanding the full repayment of the more than GH¢380 million belonging to its members.

The petition comes after affected mineworkers staged a protest to draw attention to the delays in recovering their monies.

The union explained that the affected funds comprise provident and welfare contributions, leave savings, personal deposits and severance payments.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the Bank of Ghana, its Head of Legal, Jessie Jacintho, assured the union that the concerns raised would be considered and addressed as soon as possible.