THE RETIRED WORKERS of Electrochem Ghana Limited, then Songor Salt Project, have been left to their fates as several avenues employed to persuade the company to pay their end of service benefits have fallen flat.
The health conditions of the tens of the retired workers keep deteriorating as some have even passed on due to lack of financial means to seek medical care for their aging-related ailments.
They raised the pathetic issue at a press conference at Aminapa, in the East Ada District of the Greater Accra Region.
The frail elders say they took the matter to the traditional authorities and the National Labour Commission, but to no avail. According to them, the company promised the labour commission to settle their ESB as soon as possible but five years on, nothing has been done as they keep dieing of sicknesses associated with aging.
Interestingly, the labour ministry is sitting unconcerned about the development rasing suspicion that the ministry backs the maltreatment being meted to them by the McDan-led Electrochem. Even the law court could not compel the company to honour its obligation to these seblnior citizens as he would not even appear on the adjourned dates.
Obed Tettefio, who read the statement on behalf of the aged people said, it is a standard practice that one takes over both assets and liabilities of a company, however, Electrochem is trying hard to shelve its responsibility to persons who have devoted their time and energy to keep a company he gladly took over.
“McDan took over Songor Salt Project with many promises yet has refused to pay retired workers, showing disrespect to our chiefs who had tried to intervene in this matter” he stressed.
They are therefore seeking the input of government and human right organisations to join in this fight for justice. “We are by this press conference calling on all well meaning Ghanaians, the GaDangme MP caucus in parliament and the entire Ghanaian population to advocate to foil the hand of the oppressor for an injustice in Ada is a threat to justice everywhere.
The retired workers are currently shot of the next avenues to explore to demand what they legally and legitimately deserve especially when even McDan and Electrochem will not respect even the law court. “We will not rest until justice is served because our rights, health and dignity are non-negotiable.
Indigenes have been subjected to brutalities and molestation in the hands of Electrochem-hired land guards aided by the police personnel with tens of people dieing out of gunshots. As if that is mot enough, communities around the Songor Lagoon have been prevented from fishing in tge lagoon as it used to be for about five centuries as Electrochem arrest fishers and seize theo fish.
The activities of Electrochem is devastating the Indigenes such that many have lost their only means of living, Salt weaning and fishing.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
