Workers of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) have embarked on a demonstration to register their displeasure over government’s alleged plan to privatise the company.
They claim government, through the Aviation Ministry intends to hand over the company to a Turkish investor and they cannot allow that to happen.
At the protest outside the premises of the company from where JoyNews’ Henry Kwasi Badu reports, the workers clad in red attires and arm bands want the plans aborted.
They also invoked curses on those involved in the decision.
This demonstration comes days after the Aviation Minister dismissed reports that the Kotoka International Airport had been sold to a foreign entity.
Urging the public to disregard the reports, sector Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda said government was, however, deliberating with stakeholders including the GACL a proposed Strategic Partnership Arrangement between GACL and TAV-SUMMA Consortium to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at the Airport.
This, he said, was to help achieve the Government’s vision of making Ghana the Aviation Hub within the West African Sub-Region.
General Secretary of the Public Service Workers Union, Trades Union Congress, Bernard Agyei who addressed the workers acknowledged their concerns and the need to agitate.
As representatives of the workers, Mr Adjei said they are aware of the development and will meet government on their behalf.
He indicated that while there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate discussions on some proposals to hand over parts of the Airport to a private entity, an agreement has yet to be signed.
“We have been confronted with such a situation so as responsible citizens of this country and a responsible union we are using the structures and all the avenues and resources available to us to deal with this matter.
“There will be an engagement with the union for us to state our position on the matter. What we want to assure you is that we will not sit down and allow anything to be done to the detriment of workers,” Mr Agyei said.
He assured that workers that when the time comes for them to meet government on the issue, their concerns will be raised.
“We know how you have toiled to bring the airport to the status at which it is. We know you doing your possible best under the circumstances you find yourself.
“When we go to the negotiating table, we will advance your position that the airport can be and will be run by Ghanaians,” he added.
