Sacked GPHA workers renew appeal to President

Laid off workers of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), on Tuesday renewed their appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the payment of their gratuity, which is outstanding since 2002.

Mr Stephen Ashitey Adjei, Leader of the workers, who made the appeal in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra, said a petition on the issue was sent to the Presidency on May 13, 2014.

He said since then, there has not been any response and a number of attempts to meet the Minister of Transport over the issue has proved futile.

He said so far only five out of the more than 3,000 personnel have been paid their entitlements.

“People are dying, marriages have broken, children have stopped schooling, people are seriously sick and the suffering is becoming unbearable.

“The delay tactics of GPHA is destroying human lives, which is a sin against God,” he said.

Mr Adjei said on June 5, 2003, the workers received a letter in response to their petition to the late Speaker of Parliament, Peter Ala Adjetey, 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. Beabaako-Mensah, former Secretary to the President.

He said on 27 July 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.

“I am therefore calling on the President to use his good office to ensure justice for us,” he said.