The Irrigation Company of the Upper East Region -Navrongo (ICOUR) in Ghana faced escalating tensions as workers and farmers organized their second protest this year, expressing frustration over the leadership style of Dr. Bonaventure Aligebam, the company’s Managing Director.
Long-standing grievances regarding his management approach have yet to produce any significant change, despite years of protests aimed at his removal.
Dr. Aligebam’s leadership style has been a point of contention for many years, with farmers and workers alike expressing dissatisfaction.
One protester lamented “In his tenure, we have experienced the worst-ever productivity. Farmers are crying.” The protestors accuse Dr. Aligebam of employing a “divide and rule (gymnastics) ” management style, leading to a fractured work environment.
They believe that under his tenure, ICOUR’s mission has suffered, with productivity hitting record lows and impacting the livelihoods of those relying on the company’s agricultural outputs.
“He came and met ICOUR, and he will leave, and ICOUR will grow, and the productivity of the farmers will increase. The country will get more food.”
A Protestor
Cropping Calendar Disrupted
One major grievance is the disruption of the cropping calendar—a vital aspect of rice cultivation. Under Dr. Aligebam’s leadership, workers claim the established calendar was “squashed,” disregarding the crucial timing required for successful planting and harvesting. According to the protesters, this disregard for the seasonal calendar has dire consequences.
“Rice cultivation is a timely one. If you go and meet the harmattan season, you are dead.”
A Protestor
They highlighted the climate-sensitive nature of rice farming. They further argued that Dr. Aligebam’s actions reflected a lack of concern for climate considerations, primarily focusing on personal financial gain.
“For him, he doesn’t care whether we meet whatever, climate. He wants his money.”
A Protestor
Contention Over Retirement Extension
Dr. Aligebam’s extended office stay after retirement has intensified the workers’ grievances.
Members of the General Agricultural Workers Union of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have raised concerns over his continued presence in the role, despite directives from the Chief of Staff to proceed with his retirement.
Meanwhile, a letter from the Minister of Agriculture, Honorable Bryan Acheampong, granted Dr. Aligebam a three-month extension beyond his retirement.
The letter, initially conveyed electronically by Honorable Steven Yakubu, was rejected by Dr. Aligibam, who deemed the delivery mode “unacceptable” and maintained that he had not officially received the letter.
This created a logistical standoff, with Dr. Aligebam insisting he had no formal directive to step down, despite the ministerial extension. Yakubu, attempting to resolve the impasse, later sent hard copies of the letter through a messenger, though Dr. Aligebam continued to contest the retirement directive.
Accusations of Misappropriation
In addition to refusing to acknowledge the retirement letter, Dr. Aligebam is accused of using ICOUR’s internal funds to pay himself the salary stipulated for the three-month extension.
Workers claim that, despite his ongoing dispute over the retirement letter, he was “the first to pay himself a salary for the three months which he was granted in that same letter using internally generated funds.”
This alleged misappropriation has fueled calls for his departure, with the union urging action to address his continued stay in office.
“We want him to go because he will go to the board and [set a different] agenda. When he comes to staff, we are suffering. He has a different plan altogether.”
A Protestor
Workers Petition the President’s Office
To escalate the issue, union members organized a protest march to the Kassena Nankana Municipal Assembly in Navrongo, where they submitted a formal petition addressed to the President.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Joseph Adongo, received the petition, promising immediate action. He assured protesters that he would “immediately send it to the Upper East Regional Minister for onward transfer to the President’s office.”
The workers, expressing their hopes for resolution, emphasized that they are prepared to cooperate with both the board and regional leadership to resolve the matter “once and for all.”
However, despite the mounting pressure, Dr. Aligebam has declined to publicly respond to the allegations or the union’s petition, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.
Calls for Change Amid Continued Silence
The ICOUR workers’ union remains steadfast in its demands for leadership change, viewing Dr. Aligebam’s extended stay as a direct impediment to the company’s growth.
They attributed the productivity issues and decline in morale directly to his “gymnastic style of management,” which has left workers and farmers disillusioned. The union’s focus now lies in seeing through their petition and hoping for a decisive response from the President’s office.
This continued unrest reflected the deep-seated challenges ICOUR faces under the current leadership, with a mounting call for transparency and alignment with the company’s mission of supporting agricultural productivity in the Upper East Region.
As the situation evolves, the workers and farmers who depend on ICOUR’s stability await a resolution that can restore faith in the company’s direction and leadership.
The protests against Dr. Bonaventure Aligibam underscored a long-standing dissatisfaction with his leadership style and alleged disregard for established agricultural practices and the company’s operational calendar.
With accusations of mismanagement and defiance of retirement directives, ICOUR workers and farmers hope for swift government intervention to address their concerns.
Whether the President’s office will intervene decisively remains to be seen, but the ICOUR workers’ union remains committed to advocating for a leadership change to secure the future of the company and the communities it serves.
