Organized Labour kicks against Atuabo agreement

The Trade Union Congress (TUC), has urged President John Mahama not to assent to the bill legalizing the Atuabo Free Ports Company Limited, proposed operators of the Ghana oil and Gas Free port project.

At a press conference in Tema, Mr Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary of the TUC, said the bill ratified by Parliament as a commercial agreement between Ghana, Lonrho Ports Ghana Limited and the Atuabo Free Ports Company Limited, has the possibility to sell Ghana cheap and would also contravene the law that established the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

He said the arrangement would open the floodgates for unprecedented exploitation of the country adding “we should protect national asset and keep the fire burning.”

Mr.Owusu Kwarteng, General Secretary of Dock and Maritime Workers, in a presentation at the press conference, said the activism shown by workers serves as a morale booster for them, leading the frontiers to fully champion their cause through the appropriate medium to express publicly, their frustration on the Atuabo free Ports deal.

Mr.Kwarteng said awarding the Atuabo Free Port project to a private individual dilutes the law establishing the Ghana Port and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and also threatens National Security because the government would not have maximum control over it.

He said the GPHA is a body established with the mandate of building and operating port activities within the country and all activities leading to the establishment of ports should sort for relief from them.

He said the Union would always oppose the commercial agreement between Government, Lonrho Ports Ghana Limited and Atuabo Free Ports Company Limited. He called on Ghanaians to stand united to make Ghana a better place for all and not for a few people to legitimize corruption.