Railway workers back down on demand

Railway workers yesterday backed down on their demand for the dismissal of their Managing Director, Rufus Quaye against whom they have levelled a myriad of allegations.

At a meeting with the Minister for Harbours and Railways, Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi in Accra, the Interim Management Committee of the Workers' Union indicated that, the workers have now resolved to go by the dictates of the Memorandum of Understanding signed to bring the industrial action to a halt.

The workers had demanded the unconditional dismissal of the MD and vowed to fight tooth and nail to ensure that, their demand is met by the government, failure of which they would cripple the operations of the Ghana Railway Company.

They levelled various allegations against him and indicated that, in view of the allegations, he should be asked to step aside.

Following this development, the Ministry of Harbours and Railways set up an investigation committee to go into the workers' grievances but on their arrival in Takoradi to begin their work, they were prevented from entering the premises with the excuse that, a member of the committee was a board member and as such would be biased in his approach to issues that would be raised by the workers.

The workers have also prevented the MD from entering his office and have vowed not to deal with him until the government relieves him of his post.

But at the meeting attended by seven union leaders led by Joseph K T Dadzie, IMC Chairman, the railway workers agreed to allow the investigation team to resume work with immediate effect.

They also indicated their readiness to allow the MD, Rufus Quaye have access to his office to continue to work as an MD concurrently with the investigation committee.

Other members of the IMC who attended yesterday's meeting are Daniel Esso, member secretary, John Amoah, Alex Nana Boateng, Emmanuel Drillah, George Quansah and David Amatakomi.

Prof Ameyaw Akumfi appealed to them to exercise restraint while government takes steps to address their concerns.

He announced the ministry had secured an amount of $45 million to rehabilitate the western rail line and urged them not to do anything that would derail the process initiated by the government to put the company on a sound footing once again.

"I believe that, this meeting will mark a new beginning in our forward march and our resolve to revamp the railway sector," he said.

He however complained about the growing indiscipline among workers and called on the union to help curb the trend.

The Minister also announced that, the government will by November this year, outdoor new coaches to inject new life into the operations of the company.

Daniel Esso, Secretary to the IMC declared that, "railway workers are not on strike again as has been reported in the media in recent times," and urged the ministry to expedite action on addressing their grievances.

He said the IMC has met with heads of departments of the company in an attempt to whip up enthusiasm in an attempt to help revamp the company and to address issues of indiscipline among workers.

Also at the meeting were Sophia Horner Sam, Deputy Minister, Mr. Dodd, Chief Director and Ahmed Ayuba, Special Assistant to the Minister. Mr. Opoku, former MD of GRC and Madam Erzuah, a schedule officer at the ministry were also at the meeting.

By slarge