Construction on Mpakadan railway resumes

June 26, 2019

Benjamin Xornam Glover

Construction works on the 85 Kiliometre Tema to Mpakadan railway have resumed one-week after

workers of Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company construction firm executing the project

embarked on a sit down strike over poor working conditions.

Checks at the project offices near Shai Hills on the Tema-Akosombo highway revealed that some

workers have returned to work and were busily working while others had been dispatched to the fields

to work on the rail lines.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr. William Attipoe, Compliance Officer at Afcons Infrastructure Limited

said whatever disagreement that existed have been resolved and that the construction of the new rail

lines was progressing.

It would be recalled that over 150 workers on Monday, June 17, 2019 picketed in front of the project

office near Shai Hills, to demand improved working conditions. They workers, who were demanding the

abrogation of the contract with five recruitment outsourcing companies engaged by the main contractor

over allegations that they(workers) were not being paid what was due them.

Following the action by the workers, management invited the police to help keep law and order and

protect property.

On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, the workers continued with their strike but the police intervene by firing

tear gas and warning shots to disperse the crowd. In the process, some of the workers were injured

while others were arrested by the police.

RESUMPTION OF WORK

Some construction site workers however reported to work last Wednesday ready to work and they were

allowed in by management.

Mr Attipoe said though the work stoppage slowed the progress of the project, he was optimistic that

most of the lost time can be made up over the next few months in order to them still complete the

project by the scheduled June 2020 date.

This is the third time the workers have laid down their tools over poor working conditions. He indicated

that management and the outsourcing companies have put in place measures to ensure what is due the

workers are paid them.

Mr Godwin K. Sodzi, one of the workers’ leaders, who has been issued with a dismissal letter by the one

of the outsourcing agencies, accused management for unfair treatment and stressed that leadership of

the workers will continue to engage management to get all their grievances addressed. 

Mr Sodzi alleged that the recruitment agencies have also written dismissal letters to some of the leaders

and gone ahead to engaged new workers to work on the project.

He accused management for hiding behind a theft case involving some of their colleagues who are under police investigation to silence union leaders who are demanding good condition of service.

Mr. Pramod Kumar, Senior Manager in charge of Personnel and Administration at Afcons Infrastructure Ltd in an interview with the Daily Graphic indicated that 13 workers who allegedly diverted about 100 truckloads of gravel from the company premises to a private construction site have been reported to the police for investigation.

Mr Emmanuel Tenadu, Director of  Operations, Quick Jobs company Ltd one of the five  third party recruitment agencies on the project said they were ready to work with workers who have signed on to the project and ready to work by the terms of engagement.