Retrenched GPHA workers blame Ministry for lacklustre

Mr Stephen Ashitey-Adjei, Leader of the retrenched workers of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has slammed the lacklustre approach of the Ministry of Transport to facilitate the payment of their severance awards due them since 2002.

He therefore appealed to the Ministry to be proactive in the payment of their benefits since there is very reliable information that government has directed authorities of GPHA to disburse the money.

Mr Ashitey-Adjei said he had written a letter to the sector Minister, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, and followed it up with a number of attempts to meet her personally but to no avail.

“Although I am not blaming the Minister for deliberately putting impediments on the leadership of the retrenched workers for the amicable solution to the problem, I suspect that someone is making things difficult for us, and I call upon Mrs Attivor and other stakeholders to take note because the issue involve human lives and should not be taken lightly.”

He said this would ensure justice for the more than 3,000 workers who were laid off 12 years ago.

Mr Ashitey-Adjei said so far only five people have received their severance awards.

He said if government does not pressurise the ministry to compel GPHA to pay the money management would continue to frustrate the poor ex-workers and their families.

Mr Ashitey- Adjei said the ministry is aware that on June 5, 2003 the workers received a letter in response to their petition to the late Speaker of Parliament Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, on the severance awards, which was addressed by K.E.K Tachie the then Clerk to Parliament.

Another petition to the late President John Evans Atta Mills was acknowledged by Mr J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, former Secretary to the President.

He said on July 27, 2012, Mr Chris Azumah, Director of Human Resource, signed a letter on behalf of the then Minister of Transport, saying the sector Ministry had been directed by government to resolve the impasse between the ex-workers and the GPHA.

A meeting was therefore organised on August 2, 2012 at the Ministry’s conference room but up to date the workers have not received any positive response.