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The workers of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), who were laid off without their severance awards, on Monday appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, to take personal interest to ensure that they get their benefits. Mr Stephen Ashitey-Adjei, Leader of the retrenched workers, told the Ghana News Agency that since they were laid off in 2002, one of the most reassuring news they heard, was from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the May Day celebration in 2009, when the late President John Atta Mills said all workers who have been wrongly sacked would be compensated. He said as party professing social democratic tenets, the ex-GPHA workers were very happy to hear from President Mills. �Five years down the lane, we�re still waiting on the government to come to our aid. Most of us were laid off when we were in our prime years and very productive. �We have become destitute and no one is telling us anything about the payment of the severance awards, we legitimately deserve and is the best practice anywhere, when workers are laid off.� Mr Ashitey- Adjei said fulfillment of President Mills promise would ensure justice for the more than 3,000 workers who were laid off 12 years ago. He said so far only five of the workers have received their severance awards and therefore called on President Mahama, to use his office and influence to get the money paid to them. �President Mahama served as a Vice President to the late Atta Mills and as one of the principal proponent of social democracy we expect him to fulfil the promise of the NDC,� he said.� Mr Ashitey- Adjei said the workers have sent series of petition to all the three arms of the State including the Flagstaff House. He said on June 5, 2003 the workers received a letter in response to their petition to the late Speaker of Parliament Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, on the severance awards, which was addressed by K.E.K Tachie the then Clerk to Parliament. Another petition to the late President John Evans Atta Mills was acknowledged by Mr J.K. Bebaako-Mensah, former Secretary to the President. He said on July 27, 2012, Mr Chris Azumah, Director of Human Resource, signed a letter on behalf of the then Minister of Transport, saying the sector Ministry had been directed by government to resolve the impasse between the ex-workers and the GPHA. A meeting was therefore organised on August 2, 2012 at the Ministry�s conference room but up to date the workers have not received any positive response.