Thugs Taunt Security At Port

DRAMA IS unfolding at the Tema port, following the presence of two groups described by the head of security, Major (rtd) Asamoah Duodo, as thugs from Ashaiman and Nima, as both are trying to control the premises of the stevedoring company, Express Maritime Services (EMS).

The head of security disclosed this at a meeting last Saturday with Ports and Railways Minister, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi.

Present at the meeting, which was held at the offices of the director of Port, Tema, were officials from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Police and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

According to him, some lapses at the port contributed greatly to this situation, which is now a big headache to the port authorities.

The modus operandi adopted is to obtain daily harbour passes for workers by some fishing companies under the guise of going to work on their fishing vessels, which are moved to the main harbour from the fishing port because of space and sometimes draft.

Instead of going to the specified destination, these people ended up regrouping at the gate of EMS thus posing a security threat at the port.

The presence of the minister at the port about 15.00hrs GMT was occasioned by a report of a possible clash by the 'thugs.'

According to the minister, after the stevedoring operational license of EMS was withdrawn by the GPHA as a result of boardroom difficulties, reports got to him that the problems were resolved.

Upon that he, considering the plight of the workers, asked that the suspension of the license be lifted.

A letter dated May 15, this year signed by the director general, GPHA, Mr. Ben Owusu Mensah, reference D/G/Conf/V.43/064, was addressed to the managing director, Express Maritime Services, Tema.

Captioned 'Suspension of license,' it stated: "This is to inform you that the suspension of your stevedoring license has been lifted, following a review of the situation by the authorities' board.

The directors of port are by a copy of this letter to allocate vessels to EMS to start work. Please arrange to clear your indebtedness to the authority and also ensure that your license is renewed by the end of May this year.

Meanwhile, whilst you are trying to solve your boardroom problems, we hope peace will prevail in the port as far as your operations are concerned."

Express Marine Services on May 15, this year, reference EMS/MDO/GPHA/008 despatched a letter to the board chairman of the GPHA, attention Alhaji Asoma Banda, under the caption 'Committee to Steer affairs of EMS.'

The letter stated: "We the undersigned make reference to the meeting called at the instance of a three-man committee of the board of GPHA, made up of Alhaji Asoma Banda, Nana Asafo-Adjei and Richard Deih to discuss the restoration of the stevedoring license of EMS Ltd and at which meeting all the parties to the EMS court case were duly represented and confirm the following:

* It was accepted that pending the determination of the suit in court and to ensure that work of the company is in no way impeded, the day-to-day administration of the company be handled by the management staff.

*? It was accepted also that the said management team is to work under the direction of a committee of directors consisting of Messrs Kofi Dolphyne, Samuel B. Ackah and Steven Adjei-Acheampong.

* It was agreed further that any two of the said committee of directors shall be the signatories to the existing bank account and any yet to be opened.

For the avoidance of doubt, we confirm that the above decisions were arrived at without prejudice to the outcome of the suit pending before court.

Signatories were Samuel Bewell Ackah, Kofi Dolphyne, Dr. Michael Yaw Boateng, Nana Ofei-Nkansah (lawful attorney for Akuba Dolphyne) but Stephen Adjei-Acheampong's signature was missing. On Friday, the offices of EMS was reportedly opened by the Ackahs and the workers went in to service their equipment in readiness for jobs that are to be allocated as directed by the director general's letter.

Soon after, another group, led by Mrs. Adjei Acheampong also converged at the gate trying to enter the compound.

Information got to the director general of the security threat and so by 5pm he informed the minister about the happenings and Prof. Ameyaw Akumfi gave an order for police to assist the GPHA security to maintain peace in the EMS yard.

The Railway & Ports police commander, Supt. Victor Adetor, told the minister that the head of security at the port, Major Asamoah, informed him the previous evening of GPHA management's intention to have police sack the workers from the yard close to the place and take over their equipment. A

ccording to him, he also informed the regional police boss but it was late, so the boss asked that the two groups be put before her.

When on Saturday they appeared and the authority's directives were relayed to them, the Ackahs said they could not depend on any verbal directives.

At about 2.30pm, the head of security operations, Prince Quashiegah, went to the yard of EMS to deliver a letter from GPHA to the Ackahs but they did not receive it for reasons not disclosed.

Just about the same time, a number of young men were dropped outside the port fence wall, opposite the offices of EMS, singing and hurling abuses at the Ackahs.

That was when the minister arrived at the scene and went back to the office of the director of ports for the meeting.

The Ackahs, when reached, claimed that some officials of the GPHA were behind the confusion on Friday and Saturday.

According to them, the group that was at the main gates of EMS allegedly used the Western gate, an unapproved route to enter the port.

They want an investigation to be conducted into the role some officials at the GPHA allegedly played in the presence of thugs at the Tema port.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi is scheduled to meet the two factions today in an attempt to resolve the issue.

A few years ago, armed private security personnel in a similar fashion entered the Tema port, which is a high security area, and took over the premises of the Atlantic Port Services Ltd (APS).