160 GTP workers unpiad for 20 years

Charles Takyi Menson machine operator at Ghana Textiles Printing Company (GTP) has told a Tema High Court in an on-going legal battle between 160 ex-workers and the Company over non-payment of entitlement that, even though he collected his gratuity he never saw any of the plaintiffs collecting their end-of-service-benefits.

He told the High Court presided over by Justice Nana Gywamena Tawiah that after they were sent home in 1988, they were later invited via radio announcement to report at Tema Labour Department.

According to Takyi Menson when they arrived at the Tema Labour Department, GTP authorities came there to inform them that they were going to pay them 50 percent of their entitlement and promised to pay the rest in two months time.

As a result, he said they were made to queue to collect their money. Takyi Menson continued that he did not set an eye on any of the 160 ex-workers who had dragged GTP to Court collecting their entitlements. He said he given 150,000 CEDIS as gratuity. The gentleman said the benefit was divided into two, however, no name was assigned to the payment he collected.

When the GTP officials came to the Labour Department they said they could no longer work with the ex-workers and therefore, were to be paid their entitlement.

When questioned whether any document was given to them while they received payment at the Labour Department, Takyi Menson claimed no such documents were given to any of them.

When Lawyer L.W. Anthonio, the lawyer for the plaintiffs asked Takyi Menson if he could produce the letter he claimed were given to them at the Labour Department, he said he could not produce the letter.

Takyi Menson told the Court that somewhere around 1991, he was recalled by the GTP to operate the Company’s machine.

When Lawyer Joseph Ayitey the chairman of the Labour Commission who is the lead counsel for GTP asked Takyi Menson whether he was party to the legal suit brought against the Company, he responded otherwise.