A patriotic citizens, Prince Charles Afedzi, has petitioned government to audit All Foreign Companies and their Subsidiaries Operating in Ghana since there are dubious activities, he claim are happening in their operations in the country.
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PETITION TO AUDIT AND ENACT LAWS TO GOVERN THE OPERATION OF FOREIGN COMPANIES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OPERATING IN GHANA
I write to officially Petition your Office to Audit All Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries Operating here in Ghana against All Compliances in the Factories, Offices and Shops Act (No. 328 of 1970), Other Enactments of Health and Safety Compliances / Regulations and the Observance of Employee Rights, Basic Human Rights, Human Dignity and the Respect for All Ghanaian Employees working in their Factories, Offices, Shops and Sites across the Country.
I equally write to Petition your Office to Facilitate the Enactments of Stringent Laws to Govern their Operations here in the Country (Ghana).
I must emphasize that, this is Purely Born Out of Nationalism, the Need to Respect Basic Human Rights, the Committed Approach to Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Goal of Human Rights, the Need for Ghanaians to be Respected in Our Sovereign Country and not a “Witch Hunting Exercise” thus the Call Up for this Audit as Requested in the Subject Matter of this National Petition.
I have personally had to Suffer under the Hands of some of these Foreign Operating Companies in my Career Path in this Country most recently under the Hands of VFS Global / VFS Ghana Private Limited (Visa Facilitation Services Global / Visa Facilitation Service Ghana Private Limited / Ghana Passport Premium Application Centers – Ghana) Headquartered in Ghana on the First (1st) Floor Atlantic Tower behind Marina Mall Accra for which reason I have tendered in a Twenty Six (26) Page Petition with Accompanying Evidences to your Office on the 4th October, 2022 on the Many Unfair Treatments I have suffered which is thus Receiving your Current and Utmost Attention.
It is Worth Noting that, many Voiceless and Vulnerable Ghanaians have and are Suffering many such Predicaments / Unfair Labour Practices / Physical and Emotional Assaults / Trauma and for some also Physical Injuries in these Foreign Operating Factories, Offices, Shop and Sites in the Country.
A Typical Example is that I Personally have had to Suffer a Spine Injury on the Job at VFS Global / VFS Ghana Private Limited / Ghana Passport Premium Application Center – Circle, Accra, Ghana, following the Neglect of the Management of the Company to effect my Request for a Spine Friendly Desk and Chair to facilitate my work over Three (3) Years.
It is no News to the Commission and Ghanaians the Atrocities some these Foreign Operating Companies, Offices and Shop have and are causing in the Country, some of which have been featured in News Bulletins, Head Lines and Media Discussions.
The “Sad Story” is that, there are many Voiceless and Vulnerable Ghanaian Employee Victims of these Foreign Operating Companies, Offices and Shops who have No Knowledge of the Channels of Redress nor the Existence or Role of the National Labour Commission.
For those who even know of the Channels of Redress and for that Matter the existence of the Labour Commission, the Fear of Termination / Dismissal or Further Victimization by the Management of these Foreign Operating Companies for raising these Unfair Working Environment / Conditions / Unfair Labour Practices has been a Major Hindrance in these Cases been “brought forward”.
Indeed, this Major Hindrance has hampered the Commission’s realization of the Quantum of these Atrocities which has for long Deprived the Ordinary Ghanaian Employee in these Factories, Offices, Shops and Sites of these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries from realizing their Basic Employee Rights, Human Rights and Dignity.
The Question for All of Us as Ghanaians is that, for How Long and to What Extent / Limit should these Atrocities be Allowed to be Perpetrated in our Sovereign Country?
It is at this Point that the Labour Commission with all the Powers that has been Vested in it, REPOSITION itself in the Stride to Stop All these “Labour Atrocities” hence my Petition to Commission to Audit the Current State of Compliances by these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries operating in Ghana against the Provisions in the Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328), All other Enactments / Health and Safety Regulations in the Country as well the Perpetrations of Unfair Labour Practices and other Dehumanizing Activities by these Foreign Operating Companies, Factories, Offices and Shops in the Country and to further to “Bring them to Book” to serve as a Deterrent to others who may have had Intentions / Thoughts to Act in the same Manner.
It is from this Point also that the Commission is being Petitioned to further Lead in the Enactment of Stringent Laws to Bar the Committal of these “Labour Atrocities” in the Country.
In as much as the Labour Commission is being Petitioned on the above, All Stakeholders copied in this National Petition equally have a Role to Play in Achieving the Objective of Total Compliance by these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries to the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), Factories , Offices and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328), Labour Regulations, 2007 (L.I. 1833), National Labour Commission Regulations, 2006 (L.I. 1822) and other Health and Safety Compliances / Regulations and the Observance of Employee Rights, Basic Human Rights, Dignity and Respect for All Ghanaian Employees employed in these Foreign Operating Factories, Offices, Shops and Locations across the Country.
As the Commission from the above is being Petitioned / Trusted in leading the Enactment of Stringent Laws to Prohibit these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries for Perpetrating of these “Labour Atrocities”, it is Important to factor in the ensuing Law, Stringent Sanctions for Ghanaians who will Aid these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries in the Perpetrations of these “Labour Atrocities”.
The “Sad Truth” is that the Non Compliances of the above Existing Laws and the Perpetration of some of these “Labour Atrocities” have been executed in these Foreign Operating Companies in the Country with the Keen Aid of “Unpatriotic Ghanaians” who equally ought to be made to Face the Full Rigours of the Law.
More often than not, these “Unpatriotic Ghanaians” who Aid in these Non Compliances to the Law and Perpetrate these “Labour Atrocities” are appointed as Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, General Managers, Managers and Supervisors of these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries, Heavily Remunerated and Incentified to the Disadvantage their Ghanaian Counterparts / Colleagues.
It is important for the Commission and All Stakeholders to Note that, often some of these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries Incorporate here in Ghana as Local Companies “Masked” by Local Directors and Partners.
Owners of some of these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries Strategically apply for Ghanaian Citizenship / Naturalization to enjoy the Full Benefits of Local Operating Companies here in Ghana yet fail to comply with the Dictates of the Laws and Perpetrate All Sorts of “Labour Atrocities” against their Ghanaian Employees this the Commission must Endeavour to Stop.
It is Crucial at this Point in Time for a Review of the existing Legislation on Labour Relations to include Regulation solely for Foreign Operating Companies Conduct in Relations to Labour, the Need for Bench Marking for the Setting up as well as Compliances for Foreign Operating Companies who are willing to setup Factories, Offices and Shops in the Country.
In order to achieve Total Compliance with the Factories, Offices and Shops Act (No. 328 of 1970), Other Enactments of Health and Safety Compliances / Regulations and the Observance of Employee Rights, Basic Human Rights, Human Dignity and the Respect for All Ghanaian Employees working in these Foreign Operating Companies, Factories, Offices, Shops and Sites across Ghana it demands a Concerted Effort and Commitment by the Labour Commission, Labour Departments, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Registrar General Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Metropolitan / Municipal / District Assemblies and Authorities, the Presidency, the Executive Arm of Government, Legislature, Judiciary, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Office, Organized Labour (Trade Union Congress), the Chartered Institute of Human Resources Management Practitioners of Ghana, the Human Resource Management Fraternity in Ghana, the Active Role of Media, and All Ghanaians.
These Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries Understand and Appreciate Compliances with the Law and Respect for Employee Rights, Human Rights and Dignity as these Laws, Regulations and Standards are much upheld in their Home Countries.
They further Understand that the Utmost Protection of the Rights of their Citizenry at Home and Abroad is Paramount.
If so, why can’t we Ghanaians also Regulate their Operations and Enact Stringent Laws to Protect Rights and Privileges of our Citizenry.
This will fulfil the “Ghana First (1st) Agenda”.
Let us as a Nation go ahead to Propagate the Truth that indeed the Country is a “Safe Haven” for Business and the Gate Way to the Sub Region but let us add that there are Regulations in place which will protect our Own in every Sphere.
Hence, this Call for Audit of their Operations here in Ghana and Enactment of Stringent Laws as highlighted above should not be a New Endeavour or Surprise to the Foreign Operating Companies Community here in Ghana.
The Opportunity has Presented itself today for Us All to do the Needful to Safeguard the Interest of the Nation (Ghana) and its Citizenry (Ghanaian Employees) working in these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries here in Ghana at last.
There is the need to as a Commission and a Nation Cease this Opportunity to Act Now and Right so that Posterity Can Always Judge Us Right in the “Books of Time”.
We cannot afford to be Judged Wrong or Failed by Posterity when We Are Long Gone.
I choose to by this Petition and on behalf of the Many Voiceless and Vulnerable Ghanaian Employees who have or are suffering from the Actions and Inactions of these Foreign Operating Companies and their Subsidiaries to Petition the Labour Commission of Ghana and All Stakeholders to Action the Cause of this Petition for a Free and Prosperous Nation for All Ghanaians.
God Bless Our Home Land Ghana.
Thank you.
Yours Faithfully,
…………………
Prince Charles Afedzi-Hayford
Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Human Resources Management Practitioners of Ghana
(No. 1995)
