Workers of the Forestry Commission in Tamale have locked up the commission’s offices in protest over months of unpaid salaries.

The workers say they have gone without payment for the past eight months.

Speaking to journalists, Seidu Mohammed Saani, assistant supervisor of group B, said he had received only three months’ salary in the one year he has worked with the commission.

“Some of us have received just two months, others nothing at all,” he said. “We continue to work every day, but some of our colleagues have not been paid since they were employed.”

Mr Saani said the workers were invited to a meeting with management, but the discussion was not about their salaries.
“We were called for a meeting, and we thought it was about our salaries, but it turned out that was not the case,” he said.

He added that other issues also need to be addressed. According to him, work groups that staff had been assigned to have been dissolved, and transportation arrangements to work sites have been cancelled.

The workers are calling on the government to clarify their employment status.
“We want the government to come clear on whether we are still workers on contract with the commission or we have been released from our work,” Mr Saani said.

He said they have met with authorities in the area, yet to no avail, and will not return to work until their grievances are addressed.

The PRO of the commission, Abdul Ganu, said they would ensure their grievance is forwarded to Accra for redress, adding that they have the right to protest. He commended them for peacefully conducting the protest without hurting any staff.

'We are happy that they have not harassed anyone. They are just stating their concerns, which they have the right to do because they have not been paid,' he said

Mr Ganu said the workers should continue to report to work even though they have not been paid, adding that their concerns would be addressed.