Ghanaians Reduced to Slaves at GHACEM

The Independent says although slavery was abolished over a hundred years ago, it can reveal on authority that the inhuman treatment is manifested in various forms in Ghana.

The premises of Ghana Cement have become an ugly spectre of a white Norwegian supremacy where rights of workers are trampled upon at will with the connivance of certain Blacks in positions of leadership.

Our investigations have established that GHACEM management headed by a Norwegian Managing Director is bent on dealing meanly with some workers who are currently demanding proper conditions of service.

The workers, mainly casuals and those from the security section of the company are either being transferred or sacked outright by management.

But the resistance put up by the workers has led to interventions by certain institutions including the Attorney General's department and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

The resolute stance adopted by the workers manifested in a statement they issued challenging management's sudden and unjustified decision to terminate the appointments of thirty seven of their colleagues at the security department and replace them with employees from the Sec Point, an external security agency.

Another batch of forty-two casual workers of the company have also petitioned the Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) under what they termed unjustified loss of employment, forced labour and loss of income.

According to the group of forty-two, they had served the company for several years, some for as long as fifteen years without being confirmed as permanent staff. They have suffered the worse form of health related problems than all other workers at GHACEM.

"We have been exposed to all manner of health risks in terms of occupational diseases that are prevalent", they argued.

The workers accused management that, "contrary to Article 24 (1) of the constitution, we have endured discrimination from our employers and been denied a lot of privileges and benefits granted to other staff".

They contended that notwithstanding the fact that the job is fraught with a lot of occupational diseases and the permanent members of staff are therefore sent to yearly mandatory medical check-up, the casuals have been denied access to this facility.

The petition again stated that by GHACEM's own practices over the years, most permanent staff graduate from the casual employment to permanent and wondered why their appointments have since not been confirmed despite numerous promises.