GPHA Says MPS Contract Is Being Reviewed

Authorities of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) have assured workers of the Tema Port, that the contract between it and the Meridian Ports Services Limited (MPS) was being reviewed.

Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Marketing for the GPHA, told the Ghana News Agency that Management of the Port appealed to government to review its contract with the MPS involving cargo handling and other terminal operations.

Mrs Gyebi-Donkor was reacting to calls from the GPHA Workers Union for the contract to be reviewed or they would halt operations at the Port and hit the streets with series of demonstrations.

She noted that upon Management request, the government set up a committee to look into the contract and therefore they could assure workers that their concerns were being addressed.

She said the appeal from Management was necessitated when they realized that MPS was violating GPHA shares in the company.

The General Mangaer of Corporate Affairs assured the public that activities at the Tema Port would not be grounded as the situation was under control.

“We cannot afford to have our workers be on strike, we are doing everything needed for the review of the MPS contract”, she added.

She further indicated that Management had a cordial relationship with the workers and would engagement them on progress of the review of the contract to ensure smooth operations at the Port.

Mr Emmanuel Neequaye, Chairman of the GPHA Workers Union, some few days ago threatened a strike action by the workers if the MPS contract was not reviewed as according to him, the Company was gradually taking over all stevedoring works at the Tema Port a situation which was pushing local companies out of job.

The MPS was established in 2002 as a joint venture between the GPHA and the Meridian Port Holdings Limited which comprised of Bollore Group and APM Terminal.

Source: GNA