The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) says a group of former casual workers of the Authority who are threatening a demonstration over alleged outstanding severance compensation have no case and may be seeking to throw dust into the eyes of the public.

According to the GPHA, the group has been resurfacing each election year with similar threats to attempt to blackmail the Authority into paying undeserving compensation even though the Supreme Court settled the issue in 2014.

In reaction to the planned demonstration by the ex-casual workers, the GPHA said recent assertions by the group and their threats of intended demonstration are baseless and not supported by factual evidence, explaining that “…in as much as demonstrations are constitutional rights, they come with equal constitutional and other statutory obligations. The judgements of the Supreme Court have not been over-turned. We would like to remind the members of this group that the Port enclave is a security zone and, any attempt to unduly disrupt operations will have security implications. Please be advised.”

A spokesperson for the aggrieved workers, Moses Kwanayah has said that over 4,000 individuals were affected from 2001-2002 by a World Bank programme to restructure operations at the port.

According to him, with the matter traveling to the Supreme Court and later the presidency, these workers are yet to receive proper severance package worth their service.

Below is the full statement by the GPHA.

Press Release

THREAT OF PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION, PICKETING AND RELATED MATTERS BY SOME "EX-CASUAL WORKERS" OF GPHA: POSITION OF GPHA

Following threats of an impending public demonstration and picketing at the premises of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority made by some ex-casual workers through videos and interviews circulating in the social and main media, ostensibly on grounds of an alleged failure or refusal or neglect by the Authority to pay a certain compensation sum to them upon a declaration of redundancy some 20 years ago, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (hereinafter, "the GPHA/Authority") wishes to state the facts and clarify all issues relating to the above so that the public is not misinformed.

The facts are as follows:

1. In 2001, the government of Ghana, upon an advice from the World Bank, decided to reform the Ports to improve on service delivery and to take advantage of regional growth in shipping. In doing so, a large share of Port operations, which were hitherto handled by the Port Authority were ceded to private operators with the needed resources to provide quality service to customers.
2. The Authority, having ceded most of its operations to private operators, had to reduce its staff numbers immediately. Some of these staff opted to join some of the private operators, while others elected to go home. Not all of them were permanent staff though: some were permanent staff, while others were casual staff. Yet, each of these personnel were given huge sums of money as compensation.
3. For the permanent staff, two options were tabled for their consideration: (a) An early voluntary retirement, and (b) compulsory retirement. The beneficiaries considered the package for early voluntary retirement for permanent workers as more attractive that it was over-subscribed to the extent that no worker was compulsorily relieved of his or her responsibility as a condition for the second option.
4. As has been stated, in the maritime industry and in the ports in particular, two categories of workers exist, namely; (a) Permanent workers who are employed with established Conditions of Service, and (b) Casual workers (Dockers) whose employment is on a daily basis. In other words, they only work and get paid when there is a job available to be executed for that day. This category of workers at the time were paid cash after work on a daily basis and therefore had no rights to claims for permanency of work or any long service or retirement benefits no matter how long they worked in the ports as casual labourers.
5. During the restructuring exercise, on the issue of casual workers, to which this group alleged as "ex-workers of GPHA" belonged, the Authority, out of its magnanimity decided to pay them a certain sum out of goodwill (a handshake in our parlance) for their service. Please note that the Authority was not under any obligation to do so as compared to permanent workers. Aside that, a well-structured Port casual labour company was formed to assimilate them seamlessly to continue their work as casual dockers.
6. However, the group after receiving the "handshake" was not satisfied and instituted an action at the High Court against the Authority. The matter travelled to the Supreme Court and they lost. However, not satisfied, they invoked the review jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and again lost. (See Bonney & Ors (No.l) v. Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (No.l) [2013- 2014] SCGLR 436 and Bonney & Ors (No.2) v. Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (No.2) [2013-2014] SCGLR 457.
7. It is instructive to note that this group almost always surfaces in every election year with the intention to blackmail the Authority to pay to them what they do not deserve even though finality was brought to the matter by the Supreme Court as far back as May 29, 2014.
8. We would like to indicate that GPHA adheres strictly to labour laws and regulations concerning employee severance benefits. Each case of separation from service is handled with due diligence and in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined in the employment contracts and relevant labour legislation. The recent assertions made by the aforementioned group and their threats of intended demonstration are baseless and not supported by factual evidence.
9. In conclusion, in as much as demonstrations are constitutional rights, they come with equal constitutional and other statutory obligations. The judgements of the Supreme Court have not been over-turned. We would like to remind the members of this group that the Port enclave is a security zone and, any attempt to unduly disrupt operations will have security implications.

Please be advised.

Thank you.

SIGNED

ESTHER GYEB1-DONKOR (MRS.)

GENERAL MANAGER, MARKETING AND CORP. AFFAIRS