Petitioner Disappointed in CHRAJ

Mr. Frances Abaka, 44, who petitioned the Commission of Human Rights and Administration of Justice (CHRAJ), in his cause of justice, has expressed disappointment in the Commission for failing to live up to expectation.

His expression sprouted from the inability of CHRAJ to institute legal action against a Tema-based shipping and marine products supply company, First Marine and Fuels Ghana Limited.

This was after he had sent documents to prove that his employers were cheating on him in a contract breach with him.

According to Abaka, the director of the Legal and Investigations Department of CHRAJ, Dr. P.E. Bondzi-Simpson, had decried the behaviour of the management of the company, in refusing to pay severance award and other benefits to Abaka, having engaged his services for three years.

He said CHRAJ had ordered the respondent to pay overtime and leave allowances covering three years, including risk allowances.

Mr Abaka said the company had employed him as an Assistant Bosun in August 1997 and under the term of engagement, after three years, the company was to pay severance award and other benefits.

However, when Abaka submitted his contract documents to the Company's Manager, Mr I. Buckman, for the computation of his entitlement, the manager asked him to come the next day.

He complied with the manger's directive and showed up the next day only to be told that his documents were missing and they were offering him a month's salary.

Abaka was not pleased with the behaviour of the manager and sought redress at CHRAJ.

The Commission' s investigations had proved that Abaka was really employed as an Assistant Bosun, but the company claimed that he was engaged only as a casual deck hand and that they had paid his emoluments.

He therefore found it strange that CHRAJ, with its investiagated knowledge, had not taken any legal action so far, to force the company to pay his emoluments.