The staff at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) have this morning embarked on a strike action which has resulted in a halt in the services they provide.
As a result of this action, some passengers are reportedly stranded at the Airport as the procedures to see them through are not functional. The irate workers this morning also locked out the embattled Managing Director, Mr Yaw Kwakwa, demanding his immediate resignation.
This comes on the back of the union issuing a statement directing all general staff to withdraw their services at the Airport today, Friday, 26th February 2021, until otherwise communicated by the Union.
The statement further added that the action has become necessary following the Board’s attempt to shelve the report of an investigative committee comprising the Ministry of Aviation, the Board, Senior Management, and the Public Services Workers Union which confirms the allegations of mismanagement and abuse of office levelled against the Managing Director, Mr Yaw Kwakwa.
The union indicated that, the affected services shall include the screening of pre-board passengers and access control, fire and safety cover for all aircraft, water supply and sewage treatment and Public announcement and flight display.
However, the action has had an impact on the fight against COVID-19 as officials of the Health Commodity Group of COVID-19 disclosed that, they have encountered challenges accessing the airport to take delivery of other vaccine related accessories.
Speaking in an interview on an Accra based radio station, chairman of the Health Commodity Group of COVID-19, Matthew Kyeremeh, lamented that the workers did not take into consideration the work of some essential service providers.
“Contrary to what the workers are saying that they are not interrupting essential services like COVID-19 activities, that is not true. We went to Gate 3 which we normally use to the tarmac, it was locked; we went to Gate 9 that was also locked.
“We have come back to the Jubilee Gate which the soldiers are controlling and they have managed to let us in. So, as far as I am concerned, the union activities have not taken into consideration the need for emergency services like the one we are trying to provide for the nation.”
Speaking on the same programme earlier, the divisional chairman for the Public Sector Workers Union of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Abdul-Issaka Bamba said they will not rescind their decision until the MD Yaw Kwakwa is sacked.
“Until the managing director gets out of office, we will continue with the withdrawal of service. If you want to engage us engage us through Public Sector Workers Union.”
After being questioned on the choice of the services they closed which indicated the shutdown of the airport since they are the most essential services, he posited that, those were not the only services the airport provides. He averred that, their action is also not an attempt to shut down the airport.
Speaking on the investigative report on which they are calling for the managing director to be dismissed, he asked for the investigative report to be presented to the union in order for them to know the conclusion and the outcome of the investigation.
