GPHA Boss Disrespected Office of The President
Fresh into the new year, many Ghanaians are re-energized for the pursuit of their life’s goals and dreams, some of which have been boldly written down in new resolutions, however, for over 4,000 former employees of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the new year only brings a continuation of agony from injustice that they suffered 22 years ago.
The head tracking story of the ex-GPHA workers who were retrenched in 2002 without their severance benefits remains a monumental act of injustice that the nation has done to some of its own citizens and while they continue to eat bread of sorrows, there are some names that the ex-workers cannot help but remember with pain as the architects of their misery.
“One of them is Richard Anamoo, after late former President John Evans Atta Mills had issued a fiat to the Ministry of Transport ordering that we be paid, Richard Anamoo had deliberately dragged his feet and pussyfooted over the payment until President Mills had suddenly died in office in July 2012,” recalls the ex-workers’ leader who spoke in an exclusive interview.
Then when Mills died and then Vice President John Mahama became president, the order to pay the ex-workers was ignored, and remains ignored up till today.
“This is how the GPHA’s then Director General, deliberately disrespected the orders of the President of the Republic of Ghana,” Ashitey Adjei added.
The story of the over 4,000 ex-workers of the GPHA evokes anger anytime it is told. In 2002, these ex-workers were retrenched as part of a World Bank sponsored programme. Even though money had been provided for the exercise, these ex-workers had been asked to go home with next to just a handshake.
In the years that have followed, these ex-workers have fought for justice, eventually moving ex-president Mills to issue a fiat for them to be paid in 2012.
However, Mills would soon die suddenly in office and following from that, their issue was abandoned immediately John Mahama succeeded Mills as President.
Mr. Stephen Ashitey Adjei, Alias Moshake, has refused to be discouraged, soldiering on in the quest for justice.
“I am the leader of these wronged souls and it is with a very clear conscience that I have led the fight for over 20 years, I’m not about to give up” he said.
But for a number of them, the injustice was emotionally and psychologically crushing - While some have died of melancholy, majority of them lost their wives because they could no longer be bread winners.
Also, some of them lost their sanity while majority, in old age, are constrained to live under trees as destitute.
“We, like the politicians who receive fat ex-gratia at the end of their service, also served our country. We are not asking for gratuity, just give us what is due us!” remonstrated Mr. Ashitey Adjei.
Reiterating, he said it is a no-thanks to Richard Anamoo and John Mahama that the ex-workers are still suffering.
“I hope that when they look themselves in the mirror, they are able to bear to hear their own conscience, five of our colleagues have been paid and common sense should have told ex-president Mahama to order Richard Anamoo to pay us, our problem in this country is bad character, some public office holders maltreat the vulnerable and sin against God to attract curses, Mr. Mahama worked against the poor and he should find out why after failing to carry out late president Mills’ wish in 2012, he has never won a presidential election before.
President Akufo Addo in 2012 gave his matter to God after the Supreme Court ruling on the election petition in the interest of peace and love for country, it is a spiritual matter”, Ashitey Adjei said.
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