Police Appeals to Ex-Workers to hold on with “all die be die” Demo against GPHA
The Ghana Police Service has pleaded with the over 4,000 ex-workers of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority whose severance benefits have remained unpaid after they were retrenched in 2002, not to go on with a plan to demonstrate on September 2, 2024.
At a meeting with the leader of the ex-workers, Stephen Ashitey Adjei, alias Moshake in Tema recently, personnel of the Regional Police Command have pleaded for a postponement saying the Police does not have enough personnel to peacefully shepherd the demonstration.
Apparently, a letter to President Akufo-Addo in which Moshake pleaded with the president not to deploy Police personnel during the demonstration so that the aggrieved ex-workers can fully vent their anger on the GPHA, set off alarm belts. It is not clear how the ex-workers are taking it but when Moshake was reached on phone and asked about the development, he confirmed the Police’ plea but said he is yet to officially inform the ex-workers. “in my judgement, IGP Akuffo-Dampare is the best so far and deserves Order of the Volta Award, so it wouldn’t be a good idea if we throw spanner into his work”, Stephen Ashitey Adjei, alias Moshake said.
According to him, a meeting will soon be held in Tema and Takoradi to enable the ex-workers decide on the next line of action.
The ex-workers were retrenched in 2002 as part of an exercise funded by the World Bank, but they were not paid their severance benefits.
There have since been accusations that the Management of the GPHA at the time had pocketed their money and left the ex-workers, some of whom had worked for decades, with a handshake.
What makes the denial annoying is that out of the over 4,000 ex-workers, the GPHA paid only five. In the 22 years that the GPHA has denied the ex-workers what is due them.
Moshake petitioned late former President Mills, who issued a fiat for the ex-workers to be paid. However, Prof. Atta Mills would soon die after issuing the fiat leaving to task to former President John Mahama, who succeeded Mills, to complete.
John Mahama would abandon the process and snub the ex-workers until President Akufo-Addo took over. The current president has since directed the GPHA to work on the ex-workers issue but the recalcitrant GPHA, has been dragging cold feet on the matter.
While at it, many of the ex-workers have been left to wallow in destitution, with some of them descending into lunacy while others have become bed-ridden with disease.
In a 12th August, 2024 letter that Moshake wrote to President Akufo-Addo, he informed the president about the constraint of some of the wives of the ex-workers to go into prostitution in order to feed themselves. The letter followed an earlier press conference which had been triggered by a claim by the GPHA that the ex-workers did not deserve to be paid any money. This statement by the GPHA, is what led to Moshake begging the President to stay away the Police when they demonstrate on September 2.
“We have decided to organize a massive “All Die Be Die” demonstration at the GPHA Headquarters and Ship-side in Tema on the 2nd September, 2024.
“Mr. President, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and it would be a brilliant idea if you could please advise personnel of the Army and the Police to stay away from us for their own safety, over 4,000 ex-workers and their families and friends, just imagine!
“The intention is not to cause disaffection for your good government but rather to demonstrate dislike for the disrespect for your authority as President,” parts of the letter said.
It added that, “GPHA is married to delay tactics and management of the company did the same thing under your friend at the University of Ghana, late President John Evans Atta Mills. Attached is evidence and if the current management thinks that history will repeat itself for ex-President John Mahama to come and stop the payment again, then they are deceiving themselves because God doesn’t close His eyes to wickedness.”
This aspect of the letter is what has panicked the police to ask for a postponement.
However, the letter also blessed President Akufo-Addo and Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
“Mr. President, you will live long because we always pray for the Lord Almighty, nature gods or deities among other spirits to continue to watch over you and bless you. Likewise the Rt. Hon. Speaker ASK Bagbin because when our case went to Parliament 21 years ago and he was the Minority Leader, he showed so much concern.”
Leave A Comment