Approximately eighty workers of BCM Ghana Limited, who were unlawfully dismissed, have appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and relevant state institutions to lead the charge in demanding justice for the affected workers.
This action aims to address the victimization within the mining sector of the economy.
Speaking at a press conference to draw attention to the workers’ plight, Mr. Simon Terbobri, a former Human Resource Manager at BCM Ghana Limited who was dismissed while on his sick bed, stated that illicit disengagements are prevalent in the company.
Therefore, there is a need for the sector Ministry to intervene to uphold the rights of staff.
He explained that the allegations of abuse and unlawful terminations against Mr. Paul List, the Chief Executive Officer of BCM Ghana — an Australian mining contractor — are blatantly worrying, hence the need for workers’ rights to be protected.
“These allegations, spanning several years, have raised serious concerns about the treatment of employees and the integrity of the company’s management practices,” he said.
In June 2021, Mr. List allegedly assaulted a 62-year-old Ghanaian administrative manager, Mr. Jonathan Adongo, who had been with the company for over 25 years.
It is claimed that Mr. List confiscated Adongo’s personal laptop and locked him out of the company’s secretarial office, purportedly to falsify records and seize his wife’s shareholding in the company. This incident is currently under judicial review.
In another troubling incident, Mr. List reportedly stripped a driver naked under the pretense of searching for a missing GH₵300, which was later found to have been used by the CEO to buy food. Feeling humiliated, the driver resigned from his position.
Additionally, Mr. List is accused of harassing a security guard, Mr. Samuel Sor, to gather information about the movements of Mrs. Angela List, from whom Mr. List was reportedly estranged. When Mr. Sor refused to comply, he was terminated from his employment.
Mr. List’s alleged actions also extended to the dismissal of the then Security Supervisor, Mr. Roger Azare, who had been with BCM Ghana since 2014. Mr. Azare was terminated under the pretense of downsizing, with his phone allegedly seized and searched for communications with Mrs. Angela List.
“Another former employee, Ms. Doreen, was reportedly terminated for seeking scholarship assistance and allegedly leaking company secrets, claims which have been disputed based on her job role. She has also not been paid for two months of work despite attempts to resolve the issue,” he continued.
Ms. Abigail Boye, a long-serving employee of over 20 years, faced similar treatment. Accused of being a spy for Mrs. Angela List, Ms. Boye was subjected to several disciplinary transfers before her eventual termination.
“It is alleged that over 69 employees from the Tarkwa site and 19 from Accra have been dismissed without following proper downsizing procedures. These terminations are believed to be part of a strategy by Mr. List to remove employees perceived as loyal to Mrs. Angela List amidst ongoing court disputes over shareholding,” he added.
The former HR Manager of BCM Ghana also shared his experience, detailing an abrupt and unlawful termination while on medical leave. “After 15 years of service, I was placed on immediate paid leave, only to receive a backdated termination letter while still on leave, an action that contravenes Ghanaian labour laws,” he revealed.
These allegations underscore a pattern of purported human rights abuses and disregard for Ghanaian labor laws under Mr. List’s leadership. The dismissals, frequently rationalized as downsizing, allegedly fail to follow standard procedures and have involved hiring replacements at substantially higher salaries.
He emphasized that the situation at BCM Ghana has elicited serious concerns among labor rights advocates and former employees, who are urging a comprehensive investigation into these practices. He pointed out that the ongoing court case concerning the assault on Mr. Adongo is a crucial focal point for addressing these broader issues of corporate governance and employee rights at BCM Ghana.