1,500 workers with Brazilian construction firm sacked in Kumasi over DEP

Approximately 1,500 construction workers employed on the development of the Kumasi Central Market, the Kumasi International Airport and the maternity wards of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals have had their contracts terminated by a Brazilian construction company known as MBU.

Since December 2022, the company has been dismissing workers in monthly batches in accordance with the Labour Act, affecting a total of 1500 workers.

Speaking to GHone TV's Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Isaac Justice Bediako, on condition of anonymity, a member of the company's management revealed that all the affected employees were given a compensation package and a one-month notice of termination.

"Management followed all procedures, including a medical examination, because we didn't want to violate the country's labour laws. We didn't want to do this, but circumstances forced us to," said the management member.

He said the installation of equipment, control towers and the extension of roundabouts remain to be done on the phase two projects at the Kumasi airport, which are currently about 95% complete.

He also said that all demolition of existing buildings has been put on hold because there aren't enough funds to complete the entire project.

The government's ongoing debt restructuring strategy has had an impact on the project. Foreign payments have been stopped by the government, er, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. As a result, the UK government, which initiated the initiative, has stopped providing us with funding to take it forward. So while we are ready to work, the current problem is that we lack the funds to pay the staff and buy the necessary materials, our source said.

He continued: At the moment, only a few administrative staff are working with the company doing administrative work with a few drivers. In our warehouse, all our cars have been packed in the same way. So none of our sites are being worked on at the moment.

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