Minister cautions Railway workers

Page 19 May 3/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE Minister of Harbours and Railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, has cautioned railway workers against any acts that might bring the operations of the Ghana Railway Company to a halt.
He said any such acts might have a negative impact of revenue inflows and noted that “without the revenue from your operations, your salaries will go into arrears again”.
The minister gave the caution when he met the Interim Management Committee members of the company to inquire and find solutions to renewed agitation on the workers front.
Although the IMC members denied any such agitation and allegation of intimidation on the premises of the company likely to bring work to a halt, Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi told the IMC that, “The ministry has exhausted all its sources of finance and will not be able to raise any monies from any quarters to pay workers when they cease running the coaches which bring in money.”
He said the ministry and the union members including the IMC had come far with finding lasting solutions to the grievances of the union and it was only appropriate for all to allow the Ministerial Committee set up to investigate the issues raised by the union to work in peace.
Workers of the company embarked on weeks of strike action and demanded the removal of the Managing Director of the company, Mr Rufus Quaye, for allegedly misappropriating funds.
They also demanded four months’ salary arrears before resuming work and the ministry had to find tens of thousands of Ghana cedis to settle those arrears to get the workers back to work.
However, according to the minister, reports reaching his office about the conduct of the workers was disturbing and noted that such practices could set back the progress of work done so far.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi mentioned for instance, the misunderstandings that arose from the membership of the committee and the subsequent refusal of the union members to allow the committee to sit.
He said the committee had asked for extension of time and that had been granted.
“Let us work according to the letter and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the union and the ministry to allow the committee to work and submit its report,” he said.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said his ministry and that of Finance and Economic Planning were in discussions for the release of $45 million to start the rehabilitation and maintenance of the railway lines.
“All that amount will be used on the western line because it is more commercially viable and needs more work done on it too,” he added.
The amount forms part of the total of $90 million the government has voted to spend on the railway sector this year.
He said the carting of manganese and bauxite brought a lot of money to the company and all efforts needed to be made to ensure that the process was not halted at any time because the company would lose.
However, just minutes before the meeting ended, the Secretary of the IMC, Mr Daniel Esso, stated that the workers were not going to allow Mr Rufus Quaye into his office at any time.
“We will not even accept him should the committee exonerate him because we simply do not want him as our Managing Director,” Mr Esso added.
After some discussions among members of the IMC however, a representative came back to the meeting to announce that Mr Quaye would be allowed to return to his office when the committee starts work.
The committee is expected to begin work on Monday and has 21 days to complete its work.