Re: WAMCO sends

We refer to a news article in your Monday, 27th April 2009 Edition of the Chronicle, centre spread - headlined “WAMCO SENDS 3,000 WORKERS HOME: Claims global economic crisis has affected the company” and would like to react as follows:

1. WAMCO has not sent home '3,000 workers' as was stated in the report since the entire workforce of WAMCO is 279 (Two Hundred and Seventy-­nine).

2. It is also not true that workers have been laid off because WAMCO could NOT layoff any worker without conforming to the relevant labour laws of Ghana. The facts of the current situation are as follows:-

1. As a result of the credit crunch and other related factors, our finished products stores/warehouses are full whilst shipment of products is on the decline.

2. It is therefore unproductive to keep workers in the factory idle hence the decision to ask some of the workers to proceed on their annual leave whilst the engineering unit takes advantage of the situation to carry out quarterly maintenance of plants/machinery in anticipation of improved conditions. Those who were requested to take their leave were all paid their salaries at the end of the month.

3. The decision to shutdown temporarily was communicated to the Local Union and the PMSU Executives at a meeting after which they also relayed the information to their members.

4. We wish to state that there is no struggle over the ownership of the company.

We would be most grateful if you could publish this to disabuse the minds of your numerous readers. For: West African Mills Co. Ltd (FZE) Felix K. B. Quaye General Manager (F&A) & Ag. Head of Management Team