The Management of Marwako, the fast food chain where a female staff was assaulted by her supervisor, has temporarily relieved the attacker of his duties.

In a statement released in Accra on Saturday, March 4, the fast food chain described the development as ‘unfortunate’.

“Management assures its clients and the general public that it does not and will never condone mistreatment of its workers and therefore condemns in no uncertain terms the alleged assault.

“Management is cooperating fully with and assisting police to establish the true facts for the purposes of allowing the laws of Ghana to be applied accordingly,” said the statement signed by CEO, Alhaji Marwan Mohammed.

The assailant, Jihad Thaabn, 26, a brother-in-law of the owner of the restaurant, is said to have angrily grabbed the neck of the victim and dipped her face into raw pepper, which he had poured onto a table.

Evelyn Boakye

The victim, Evelyn Boakye, whose face was allegedly rubbed in the blended pepper for more than 10 minutes while Thaabn squeezed her neck and yelled abusive words on her, had to cry for help as she pleaded with Thaabn to let her go.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim told the Daily Graphic that although she had been employed to work in the Rice Department, she was occasionally asked to help in other departments where more hands were needed, however, on Sunday, February 26, 2017, she was asked to help in the Full Chicken Department, where she was instructed to blend fresh pepper for the seasoning of the chicken.

After blending the first set, Evelyn, realising that the sound of the blender was not normal, decided to find out what the problem could be by turning off the start knob.

Three other employees who were present as their colleague was being maltreated were said to have looked on helplessly due to threats from the supervisor to dismiss anyone who came close.

Meanwhile, fast food chain says it is providing the best of care and ensuring the best interest of the victim.

The Management says it "assures that it will not sacrifice the reputation it has built for itself over the last twelve years in Ghana as an entity that looks out for its employees who are credited for the best services it renders to its clients."

The fast food chain in the last 24 hours has come under intense criticisms and condemnation on social media after news of the assault broke.

With the hashtag '#BoycottMarwako', many Ghanaians have been pushing for a boycott of the fast food chain, as they see the attack on Evelyn Boakye as one of the numerous instances of abuse by foreigners, especially Lebanese, on their Ghanaian employees.

Read the full statement from the food chain below.

Press Statement by Marwako Fast Foods on case of alleged assault at its Abelenkpe Branch

The management of Marwako Fast Foods deeply regrets the alleged incident of assault at its Abelenkpe branch on Sunday February 26, 2017.

The branch supervisor at the centre of the unfortunate development has since been suspended, without prejudice, pending investigations and disciplinary sanctions over the alleged act.

Management assures its clients and the general public that it does not and will never condone mistreatment of its workers and therefore condemns in no uncertain terms the alleged assault.

Management is cooperating fully with and assisting police to establish the true facts for the purposes of allowing the laws of Ghana to be applied accordingly.

The said Abelenkpe branch supervisor, Mr Jihad Chaaban, has been interrogated by police and is currently on bail pending further processes.

Meanwhile, management has become aware that the victim had immediately reported the incident to the Head of Human Resources at the Labadi branch, but this, unfortunately, had not been brought to the attention of management until police sought to arrest said supervisor.

It is understood that HR Department had attempted to resolve issues internally and that explains why said victim reported to work on Monday February 27, 2017.

These attempts at internal resolution were then curtailed by management to allow for disciplinary proceedings as Chaaban was suspended.

Marwako in the meantime is providing the best of care and ensuring the best interest of the victim, and assures that it will not sacrifice the reputation it has built for itself over the last twelve years in Ghana as an entity that looks out for its employees who are credited for the best services it renders to its clients.

The Chief Executive Officer who is himself a Ghanaian citizen, employing over three hundred of his fellow Ghanaian citizens, is particularly saddened by the incident and commits to getting to the bottom of it.

Signed

Chief Executive Officer

Alhaji Marwan Mohammed