MINUTES ON CONFERENCE CALL MEETING
IN THE MATTER OF ARBITRATION BETWEEN NEWMONT GHANA GOLD LTD AND
GHANA MINEWORKERS’ UNION
______________________________________________________________________
Date: Monday, 20th October, 2025
Time: 9:20 am
Venue: Via phone call (conference call)
Attendance
Mr. Peter B. Amaleboba, Esq.
Mr. Charles Antwi D. Antwi, Esq.
Colonel Aaron Amadu Baba, Esq.
Representative of EIWU
Kwadwo Owusu-Ansah, Esq. (Counsel for EIWU)
Representative of NEWMONT
Mr. Thomas Thompson (Director, Employee and Labour Relations, Africa)
Absent with apologies
Ghana Mineworkers’ Union (GMWU)
Recorder
Nana Madina Ibrahim (Secretary)
Background
The conference call was convened at the instance of the Chairman of the Arbitration
Panel to resolve some issues following the rescheduling of the meeting initially planned
for Monday, 20th October 2025.
The Secretary informed that following consultation with the Arbitration Panel the meeting
had to be rescheduled because the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union
(GMWU) is bereaved and would be burying his mother over the weekend. The Union
communicated that they would be unavailable throughout the week and therefore unable
to attend.
The Panel had proposed alternative options, including virtual participation and sending a
representative, but GMWU declined both. Given that the GMWU is a participant in the
arbitration process, a decision was taken to reschedule the meeting until after the burial.
Reaction from Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd
The Secretary reported that Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd expressed strong displeasure at
the rescheduling, describing it as unfair, given that they had already granted permission
for workers who are members of EIWUG to travel from their mining site to Accra for the
meeting.
Newmont indicated that the meeting should have proceeded as scheduled and requested
that the Secretary brief the Panel accordingly.
Following this, the Chairman directed that a conference call be held with all panel
members to address the concerns raised. The Secretary was also instructed to invite Mr.
Thomas Thompson of Newmont to join the call and present the company’s position
directly to the Panel.
Discussion with Newmont
Mr. Thomas Thompson joined the call and reiterated Newmont’s dissatisfaction with the
decision to reschedule, highlighting the expense and inconvenience caused to their staff
and the company.
The Chairman acknowledged Newmont’s concerns and apologized for the short notice,
explaining that the decision was made solely in the interest of fairness, as GMWU is a
key stakeholder in the arbitration process. Proceeding without them would have been
procedurally inappropriate.
Inclusion of Counsel for EIWUG
During the conference call, the Secretary informed the Panel that she had received a
message from Counsel for EIWUG, who had equally expressed displeasure over the
rescheduling of the meeting.
Upon being briefed, the Panel members directed that Counsel for EIWUG be added to
the conference call to state his position.
When joined, Counsel for the EIWUG objected to the postponement of the meeting on
the ground that the presence of the GMWU was not relevant to the agenda, which was
simply to communicate the EIWUG’s position in favour of allowing the arbitration
proceedings to continue.
Counsel further expressed the view that the postponement was an attempt to delay the
continuation of the proceedings and to create disaffection among the workers represented
by EIWUG, through the spread of misinformation suggesting that the EIWUG was the
obstacle to improvements in the workers’ conditions of service.
Ultimately, however, counsel yielded to the Panel’s position that the meeting could not
proceed in the absence of the GMWU, as they were an integral party to the arbitration
process.
Conclusion
The Chairman and Panel members once again apologized to all parties for the
inconvenience caused by the postponement. He emphasized that the decision was taken
in the interest of fairness and to guarantee procedural integrity, as all relevant parties
must be present for the arbitration to progress smoothly.
The Chairman expressed regret that the meeting could not come on as planned and
assured all parties that a new date would be communicated in due course.
The conference call ended at 9:55 a.m.
Nana Madina Ibrahim
Secretary to Arbitration
FOR: ARBITRATION PANEL
