Central Bank workers take to the streets

Staff of the Bank of Ghana on Monday staged a demonstration in front of the bank's premises at the High Street in Accra to protest the dismissal of two of their colleagues.

The dismissed senior staff, Mr Benjamin Duffuor, Chairman and Mr Frank Mensah, Secretary of the Bank of Ghana Senior Staff Association were dismissed on Friday, and their dismissal letters handed them late in the evening after working hours.

The enraged workers demanded the reinstatement of their colleagues with immediate effect.

Mr Frank Mensah who reported to work on Monday was prevented from accessing the Bank's premises by security officials, while heavily armed policemen kept the demonstrating workers under control.

Frank Mensah told Joy News he reported to work because he thought the whole thing was a joke since the letter purporting to dismiss him was not signed.

He said he was travelling and heading towards Kumasi in the Ashanti region when his wife called to say that a security official from the Bank was in their house and wanted her to acknowledge receipt of the dismissal letter on his behalf.

Frank Mensah said he could not immediately relate why he had been dismissed since the letter did not specify any reason other than to explain that he would be due a month's salary in lieu of notice, plus his net accumulated entitlements.

His other colleague, Mr Benjamin Duffuor was also refused entry into the bank. He had indicated that on Friday when the letter got to him in his house, he refused to accept it, insisting that it was past working hours. He had therefore hoped that he would be told what exactly his crime was on Monday but he was not allowed access to his office.

Author: Isaac Yeboah