Workers of Asare Original Pay All cry foul

Accra, Aug. 4, GNA - Workers of Asare Original Pay All, a private lotto company, on Thursday said irregular payment of salaries over the last six months was putting them on the edge of life with virtually nothing to feed their families. The workers, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, said they had not received their salaries for the months of June and July. Asare Original Pay All sponsors the country's two glamorous clubs, Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club and Asante Kotoko.

When the GNA contacted the Public Relations Officer of the company, Miss Mercy Opare, she admitted that the staff had not been paid, but explained that the Company went into financial crisis recently after the introduction of the new VAT coupons. She, however, insisted that workers had been paid for the month of June.

Miss Opare said the Company was yet to fulfil its sponsorship package to Accra Hearts of Oak for the last two months. "Therefore it is not as if the Company has got money and was refusing to pay the workers." She denied allegations of unfair treatment of workers, saying the Management and workers had an excellent relationship. Some of workers said they had worked with the Company for six months but had been paid only three months' salary.

"I live very far off and transportation takes half of my salary, so if I am not paid for so long, how do I feed my family?" one worker asked. "The Company earns so much, but we are not treated fairly," another intimated.