Ex-Capital and UT Bank workers demand exit-pay, benefits

Former workers of the defunct Capital Bank and UT Bank, have renewed their demand for exit payment and other service benefits.

They said it had been eight months since the collapse of these banks and the going had become really tough for them.

“We are hopeful that the government will listen to our plight and come to our aid,” Mr. Edem Adimado, their Spokesperson said a press conference in Accra.

The Bank of Ghana (BOG) had revoked the licenses of the two banks in August, last year, because they had become deeply insolvent and appointed Messrs Vish Ashiagbor and Eric Nana Nipah, both Directors of PricewaterhouseCoopers (Ghana) Limited as Joint Receivers for the purpose of winding down the affairs of the pair.

GCB Bank was authorized by BOG to take over their management under a Purchase and Assumption Agreement.

Mr. Adimado said the actions by the Government and the BOG to protect depositors’ funds and to ensure that no customer deposit was affected was fundamental to the success of banking industry.

“We believe that any waver or dither of confidence in the industry by an already unbanked population can only spell doom for the economy.”

He however, expressed discomfort with the attitude of the BOG, over the last few weeks anytime the plight of the ex-staff came up “for us to deal with the Receivers”.

“We believe that this high level of insensitivity to our plight is highly discomforting and most unfortunate,” he added.

He said per the Joint Receivers’ letter dated January 15, this year, an agreement was reached with the Union of Industry Commerce and Finance Workers (UNICOF), their representatives, to pay all staff of these defunct banks, an exit package.

He said nothing had been paid to them and they were therefore asking that all their entitlements should be paid without any further delay.

They were mindful as responsible citizens and bankers of their obligations in the payment of loans taken, and “we are rightfully asking for our loans to be discounted so we can discharge our obligations to the Receiver”.

Their outstanding leave should also be computed and paid for in accordance with the Labour Law.