Over 1,500 construction workers employed for the construction of the Kumasi Central Market, Kumasi International Airport, and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals Mother and Baby Units (MBU) have had their contracts terminated by a Brazilian construction firm known as a “Contractor”.
The company in December 2022 began terminating employees appointment in accordance with the Labor Act in monthly batches, affecting a total of 1500 employees.
A management member of the company revealed, under the condition of anonymity, to GHone TV’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent, that all the affected employees received a one-month notice of appointment termination followed by a compensation package.
“Management didn’t want to violate the country’s labour laws so we followed every step including medical check out. This is not something we intended to do but the situation has forced us to do that,” the management member stated.
He disclosed that the Kumasi airport phase two projects which is about 95 percent completed left with installation of gadgets, control towers, and extension of round ways.
The management member added that the demolition of existing structures is all on hold due to lack of funds to facilitate the completion of the entire project.
“The project has been affected by the ongoing government debt restructure programme. Government, I mean the finance minister has suspended external payment. So the UK government responsible for founding the project has stopped releasing funding to us to work on the project. So we are ready to work but we don’t have money to pay workers and buy material so that’s the problem we are facing at the moment,” our source explained.
He continued: “At the moment only few administrative staff are currently working with the company doing administrative work with few drivers. All our vehicles have equally been packed at our warehouse. So for now there’s no work on any of our sites.”
Central Market Phase Two Project
The Central Market project sod cutting was held on 2nd May 2019 by President Nana Akufo Addo in company of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and expected to be completed by the end of March 2024.
However, the construction firm disclosed they can’t meet the deadline due delays on the project, a development they stressed is beyond their control.
“We can’t meet the deadline for the traders to come and trade in the Central Market. This is because the former Kumasi mayor failed to relocate the traders on time for the project to start on time as we wanted. We have already wasted a lot of time on this project before this IMF recommended debt restructure programme affecting the entire project. You know money and equipment were ready but KMA didn’t show any commitment to them to support the project. At some point the UK government wanted to take their money back until Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah’s intervention.”
Meanwhile, Central Market traders who were relocated to the racecourse market and others who have no place to trade are expected to hold a major demonstration against the government on Monday 13th March 2023 over the stalled Kumasi Central Market project.
Manhyia Palace
Another source close to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also confirmed Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has been briefed about the stalled work on the three sites. As a result of the debt restructuring programme proposed by the IMF that the government is depending on a loan to restructure the country’s collapsing economy.
“You all know the role Otumfuo played behind the scenes on this project. The King is aware of the situation. He will soon travel to the UK for the coronation of King Charles the King of Great Britain in the coming days and this issue will be looked at. It’s unfortunate but these are priority projects which are dear to Otumfuo and fall within the Asanteman development agenda so Otumfuo will take the right step I can assure you of that”.