GNFS appeal over dismissal of two pregnant women

The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has dismissed an application for stay of execution pending appeal in the case in which the Ghana National Fire Service has been ordered to reinstate two of its staff who were sacked for getting pregnant in the first three years of the employment.

The High Court last year ordered the GNFS to pay each of the victims GHc50, 000 as compensation.

In a landmark judgment, the court declared as unlawful Regulation 33 (6) of the Conditions of Service of the GNFS that debars servicewomen from getting pregnant within the first three years of their employment.

Daily Heritage Court Correspondent Muntalla Inusah who was in court reported that the state according to the court did not demonstrate what it will lose if the stay of execution was granted.

In his ruling after Jasmine Armah, a state Attorney had moved for the orders made by a different judge be set aside pending appeal, the court said, the orders of the High Court must stand.

Court Orders

The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court ordered the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to pay GH¢50,000 each as compensation to two Fire Servicewomen who were dismissed for getting pregnant within the first three years of their employment.

The court also ordered the GNFS to reinstate Ms. Grace Fosu and Ms. Thelma Hammond, the two women, and also pay them all their salaries and benefits that had accrued during the period of their dismissal.

It further awarded costs of GH¢10,000 against the GNFS.

But, the fire service has since April last year failed to carry out the orders of the court and later filed an application for stay of execution.

The Court in its ruling today dismissed the application on grounds that, it failed to show the difficulty the fire service would have reinstating them.