The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has overturned a decision by Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL) to suspend the employment contracts of all its staff following extensive flood damage to its Accra facility, directing workers to ignore the earlier notice.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 1, the Ministry said it strongly disagreed with the company’s decision and had instructed management to immediately withdraw the directive.
“The Ministry takes a very strong view of the directive and immediately instructs Management to reverse that decision. All GDCL staff are to disregard the directive,” the statement said.
The intervention follows a circular issued by Ghana Digital Centres Limited announcing that all staff employment contracts would be temporarily suspended from July 1 while management assessed the full impact of the June 29 floods on its operations.
GDCL explained that severe flooding had caused significant damage to its infrastructure, disrupting operations at the technology hub and affecting businesses housed within the facility. Management argued that the interruption had also impacted the company’s ability to generate revenue, making the temporary measure necessary.
However, the Ministry maintained that staff should not bear the immediate consequences of the disaster, particularly at a time when many employees had themselves been affected by the floods.
“At a time when staff have been personally affected by the June 29 floods, the Ministry stands with its staff and the staff of all our agencies,” the Ministry stated.
To resolve the matter, the Ministry has summoned the management of Ghana Digital Centres Limited to a meeting on Wednesday, July 2, to discuss the decision and determine the way forward.
The meeting comes shortly after the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, visited the Ghana Digital Centres on June 30 to inspect the extent of damage caused by the floods and assess their impact on businesses operating within the complex.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, Christine Adwoa Agyapomaa Ansong, has defended the company’s earlier decision, insisting that the suspension of employment contracts should not be interpreted as a dismissal of workers.
According to her, the measure was intended to be temporary and was driven solely by operational challenges created by the flooding. She explained that parts of the facility had become unsafe for use and that the disruption had severely affected the company’s operations and revenue.
She further assured employees that management plans to recall all affected staff once restoration works are completed and the facility resumes normal operations.
The Ministry’s intervention is expected to provide immediate relief to employees while discussions continue on how the state-owned technology hub can recover from the flood damage without disrupting workers’ livelihoods.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
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