Publish Committee's Findings - Ex-NOPL Workers to JAK

Ewusiejo (W/R), Aug 31, GNA- About 500 ex-workers of the former National Oil Palm Limited (NOPL) near Agona-Nkwanta in the Western Region who were allegedly dismissed unlawfully in 1991, have appealed to President J. A. Kufuor to make public the findings of a special committee he caused to be set up to go into their grievances.

Making the appeal through the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Ewusiejo near Takoradi today, the ex-workers led by Mr. James Oppong, Mr. S. B. K. Arthur and Mr. Samuel Assahene, said following a complaint they made to President Kufuor in 2001, he ordered the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahanta West, Mr. Kwesi Biney to set up a special committee to go into their grievances and communicate the committee's findings to him without delay.

Consequently, the ex-workers said the DCE set up the committee in March 2002 and the committee completed its work in June 2002 and submitted its findings to the DCE for onward transmission to the President.

They claimed that the DCE on his part channelled the findings through the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council, which forwarded the committee's findings to the office of the President since December 23, 2002 but up to today, they have not heard anything from the President. The ex-workers said in view of the hardships they have gone through for the past 12 years, which have resulted in the destruction of their marriages and their children's education, "We shall be most grateful if the President would let us know the outcome of the committee's work to enable us to advise ourselves accordingly".

The NOPL, which was put on divestiture by the former Government, has now been taken over by NORPALM Limited.