Tag: Aid workers

  • Burials in limbo as mortuary workers’ strike bites hard

    Burials in limbo as mortuary workers’ strike bites hard

    Families found themselves unable to access the Korle-Bu Hospital Mortuary to retrieve their deceased loved ones on September 26.

    At the same time, those wishing to deposit bodies for preservation faced disappointment as mortuary workers were on strike, seeking better working conditions.

    During a visit to the morgue by a TV3 news team, groups of distraught families gathered only to learn that the morticians were not available. After waiting for hours without any assistance, many sought shade under nearby trees to escape the heat.

    While the families did not participate in formal interviews, they voiced their frustration over the situation and its implications for their burial plans. Several families had hoped to have the bodies released on Thursday in preparation for weekend funerals, but that was not possible.

    The strike by the mortuary workers is a protest against poor working conditions and mistreatment. They reported hazardous work environments, inadequate protective gear, and insufficient facilities, stressing that the lack of respect for their vital services has pushed them to take this action.

    As outlined in Section 159 of Ghana’s Labour Law, Act 651 (2003), this strike is legitimate, allowing workers to withdraw their services due to unsafe or unfair conditions. The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) is demanding improvements in their working conditions, as well as fair wages, benefits, and overtime pay.

    Off the record, the workers told TV3 that they would not dress the bodies for several days and would allow them to smell until their demands were met by authorities.

  • Ghanaian workers ranked 4th most stressful employees in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Ghanaian workers ranked 4th most stressful employees in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Ghana has emerged as the fourth most stress-inducing work environment in Sub-Saharan Africa, as highlighted by the 2023 Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report.

    The findings from Gallup’s survey reveal a prevalent experience of daily stress among Ghanaian workers, positioning the country prominently on the list of stress-stricken workplaces in the region.

    Topping the list is Chad, with its workforce facing the highest daily stress levels, followed by Uganda, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone. Ghana closely trails Sierra Leone, securing the fourth spot in the ranking of countries with the most stressful working conditions.

    Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 46% of workers endure daily stress, with similar percentages observed among both male and female employees. Despite the region’s strides in recovering from the pandemic’s impact, employee stress remains alarmingly high.

    The survey underscores the imperative for organizational leaders to tackle employee stress, recognizing its significant repercussions on productivity and performance.

    Gallup underscores the pivotal role of employee engagement in stress reduction, emphasizing its importance over the physical work environment.

    In the words of Gallup, “While the debate over remote, hybrid, or on-site work continues, employee engagement remains paramount in reducing stress levels. The flexibility of remote work offers autonomy and well-being, valued highly by today’s workers,” stated Gallup in its survey.

    Gallup’s survey methodology involves gathering responses from 1,000 individuals in each country or region, employing a standardized set of core questions translated into major local languages. The data represent the perspectives of employed adults aged 15 and above.

    The report serves as a call to action, highlighting the urgency of addressing workplace stress and fostering employee engagement to cultivate a healthy and productive workforce across Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “While the debate over remote, hybrid, or on-site work continues, employee engagement remains paramount in reducing stress levels. The flexibility of remote work offers autonomy and well-being, valued highly by today’s workers,” stated Gallup in its survey.

  • ECG Staff boycott May Day event as Ashanti Regional Minister delivers a speech

    ECG Staff boycott May Day event as Ashanti Regional Minister delivers a speech

    Tensions escalated during the May Day celebration in the Ashanti region as employees of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) staged a walkout while Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, was delivering his speech on Wednesday, May 1.

    The employees were protesting against the minister’s decision to have their Regional Manager arrested and his failure to issue an apology for this action.

    The National Vice Chairman of the ECG Senior Staff Workers Union, Bismark Adomah, announced that the company would suspend all communication with the Minister until an official apology and withdrawal of the case were issued promptly.

    “As you are aware, we already have an issue with him. He has done something that the workers front are not happy. Initially, the workers front were demanding that we shouldn’t even appear at all. But we think that this is our programme and we need to represent. Since he said he’s not ready to fulfill whatever we asked him to do, we don’t even want to listen to him. So, this is just a peaceful protest that we’re not going to listen to whatever he will say. If he’s done with his speech, we’ll go back.”

    Furthermore, the ECG workers’ union threatened to disconnect the Ashanti Regional Minister’s private residence if it is discovered that he has outstanding electricity bills.

    This threat arose after Simon Osei Mensah denied accusations of unpaid electricity bills at some of his private properties.

    Mr. Osei Mensah clarified that, with the exception of his Jachie residence, all his other properties operate on prepaid meters.

    However, Yussif Osmanu Abdulai, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of ECG-Ashanti West, disclosed on Luv FM that the power company is currently reviewing meter readings from the minister’s residence.

    If it is confirmed that he has unpaid bills, they will not hesitate to disconnect power to his home.

    Watch video below:

  • Ghanaian workers among the least productive globally – Prof Adei

    Ghanaian workers among the least productive globally – Prof Adei

    Renowned economist, Professor Stephen Adei has conducted a comparative analysis of the productivity levels of workers from Ghana and Togo.

    His research findings indicate that Ghanaian workers are among the least productive globally.

    Professor Adei emphasized that Togolese workers exhibit higher work quality compared to their Ghanaian counterparts, as per his research.

    He noted that employers often prefer Togolese workers due to their superior productivity levels.

    “…The Ghanaian worker is one of the least productive workers in the world when they are in Ghana. In fact, was it ten years ago the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences asked me to give a lecture on productivity in Ghana and I found that in Africa given the same conditions, qualifications and everything else, the Ghanaian worker was among the least productive worker in Africa,” the former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration said.

    He added “To me what shocked me in that research was that the Togolese worker was more productive than the Ghanaian which I wanted to see evidence of until I started looking at Togolese workers in construction in Ghana.

    “Their productivity is far superior to Ghanaian workers. Masons, electricians, tailors, and often people think they are Ghanaians because they speak Ewe, but they are not Ghanaians. And some of the construction people look for them because of their quality work,” he stated.

  • Aid workers killed in Gaza included Canadian-American citizen – Hospital records

    Aid workers killed in Gaza included Canadian-American citizen – Hospital records

    A bombing by Israel killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, causing the charity to stop giving food to the people in Gaza who really need it. This is happening because Israel is attacking Gaza, and many Palestinians don’t have enough food to eat.

    There was no way to verify where the fire started on Monday. The Israeli military said it was very sorry for the deaths, but did not admit that it was their fault.

    The video showed dead people, some wearing protective clothing with the charity’s symbol, at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Hospital records show that three people from Britain, one from Australia, one from Poland, one from the United States and Canada, and one from Palestine were killed.

    The charity, started by famous chef José Andrés, helped open a new way to bring much-needed help to northern Gaza. The UN says many people there are close to starving because they are cut off from the rest of the area by Israeli forces.

    Andrés’ charity helps people in many countries that have had wars or natural disasters, like Israel after the Oct. The person who caused the conflict with the attack feels very sad about the deaths of his friends.

    The Israeli government must stop killing people without choosing who they are. He said on X, which used to be called Twitter, that they should stop blocking humanitarian help, stop hurting innocent people and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon.

    The charity said the team was traveling in three cars, with two of them being armored vehicles, and they had planned their movements with the Israeli army.

    Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the top military spokesperson, said that they are looking into the incident very seriously. He also mentioned that they will begin an investigation to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

    Erin Gore, the head of the charity, said, “This is not just an attack on our organization, but on all groups trying to help in dangerous situations where food is being used as a weapon. ” “This is really wrong and can’t be forgiven. “

    UNRWA, the main UN agency in Gaza, reported that 173 of its workers have been killed in the area since the war started. This happened when militants led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Israel fought back with one of their most deadly and damaging attacks in a longtime.

    Several countries wanted to help the people in northern Gaza, where there is a big problem. They tried to open a new way to bring in more aid by using the sea. Right now, not enough supplies are getting in because Israel controls the land routes. The United States and other countries have dropped supplies from airplanes to help, but experts say it’s not enough to meet the growing needs.

    Israel stopped UNRWA from sending aid to the north, and other aid groups are saying it’s too risky to send truck convoys north because the military hasn’t made sure it’s safe.

    Three ships from Cyprus brought 400 tons of food and supplies to help people. The ships were organized by World Central Kitchen and the United Arab Emirates after a test run last month.

    The US has given important help to Israel’s attack. They are talking about using the sea to deliver aid and are going to build a floating dock. It will take a few weeks to build.

    Adrienne Watson, who speaks for the National Security Council, said that the US is very upset and worried about the strike. “Weask Israel to quickly look into what happened,” she wrote on X.

    Nael Eliyan, a Palestinian who had to leave his home, was in his tent about 100 meters away when he heard a big blast on Monday night. He quickly went to the place where it happened. “Their injuries were very bad, and they died fast,” he said, calling them “heroes, martyrs, and brave people. “

    The aid workers’ bodies were brought to a hospital in the southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border, as reported by an Associated Press reporter at the hospital.

    The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said that a person named Zomi Frankcom from Melbourne, who was 44yearsold, was killed. He also said that the Australian government has asked Israel for an explanation.

    “This person volunteered in another country to help people in need through a charity organization in Gaza who are going through a lot of hardship. ” “This is not okay at all,” Albanese told reporters.

    DavidCameron, the top official in charge of UK relations with other countries, said they are checking to see if reports about British people dying in the attack are true. He said it was very upsetting news.

    “It is important to keep humanitarian workers safe while they do their job,” he wrote on X, and also asked for an investigation.

    Poland’s Foreign Ministry expressed their deepest sympathy to the family of a volunteer who had been helping Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. They did not say how the volunteer had died. The Foreign Ministry wants to know why Israel did something and is asking them to explain.

    The mayor of Przemysl, Wojciech Bakun, said on Facebook that the victim’s name was Damian Soból and he was from the city in southeastern Poland.

    Over 32,916 people in Gaza have died in the war, and most of them were women and children. The Health Ministry in Gaza counts all the deaths, not just civilians. Israel says that the deaths of civilians are caused by Palestinian militants who fight in crowded neighborhoods. The army doesn’t usually talk about specific attacks.

    Late on Monday, it seems like Israel attacked Rafah and 12 Palestinians, including 5 children, were killed. Israel said they would keep fighting in that area even though there are a lot of Palestinians there who have run away from the fighting in other places.

  • Aid workers help liberate captured Sudan soldiers – ICRC

    Aid workers help liberate captured Sudan soldiers – ICRC

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has reported that it played a key role in facilitating the liberation of 125 Sudanese soldiers who were being held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

    The ICRC said the troops – many of whom were wounded – had been taken by bus from the capital, Khartoum, to the city of Wad Madani to the south.

    The war between Sudan’s army and the RSF has caused a major humanitarian crisis, displacing nearly three million people.