WAMCO workers defy Minister; present petition to Mahama

Hundreds of workers of Takoradi-based West African Mills Company (WAMCO) on Monday, July 6 besieged the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) to present a petition through the sector minister to President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the workers, conditions of service have deteriorated while the company’s annual turnover has dipped.

They are, therefore, calling for the immediate dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the company and take over by government.

Not even an attempt by Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah, the Minister of Trades and Industry, to parry the demonstrating workers to the Ministry of Finance will stop them.

General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) Solomon Kotei, on behalf of the workers, stood his grounds to present a petition to the Trades Minister, explaining that the Minister of Finance had dodged the workers while his two deputies were loath to receive them.

But later receiving the petition, Dr Spio Garbrah assured the workers that their concerns will be resolved “so that the workers can know their future and those who need to be trained can move on”.

Mr Kotei, acting as the workers’ spokesperson, warned that further industrial actions will be unleashed if government does not act swiftly on their demands.

“The same way the [Western] regional ministry of Takoradi received it, gave us such nice words,” he said. “Minister of Finance also gave us nice words. Minister of Employment [and Labour Relations] also gave us nice words. We want the president to know that there is no more time to wait any further. If there should be any action, it should be now.”

Set up in 1993, WAMCO has been blamed by the workers of operating without pay-in taxes to government.

Among the placards wielded during Monday's march read: 'Cocobod, please take over WAMCO', 'Mr President, our children are dying', 'Mr President, lend us money', '1 year, 7 months no salary' among others.