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The Tema Shipyard Limited Local Union of the National Union of Seamen, Ports and Allied Workers (NUSPAW) of TUC has cautioned the host of TV3 morning, Johnny Hughes and the entire production team to desist from churning out false information to the general public regarding the ongoing restructuring and capital injection at the Tema Shipyard.

According to the Union, Jonny Hughes and his entire production crew will do TV3 and its viewing public good if they seek for the right information before going on air.

In a rejoinder sent to TV 3 and the host of its JonniesBite show, Johnny Hughes, ostensibly in response to the misrepresentation of facts churned out by the broadcaster, the Union said they together with management went through all the processes outlined in the Labour Act (Act 651, 2002) and subsequent procedures before implementing the ongoing labour restructuring and capital injection exercise.

Therefore, attempts by Johnny Hughes to tell the public using a 2017 video clip of the honourable Minister of Transport assuring the workers of no job losses is not a true reflection of the facts on the grounds.

Again, it is palpably false and ill-intentioned for Jonny Hughes to create the impression that the Minister for Transport, Hon. Ofori Asiamah has shown no concern and taken any intervention to save the dying company from total collapse. Rather it was the minister who has been at the forefront of reviving the Tema Shipyard, noted the Union.

The rejoinder dated November 8, 2022, was jointly signed by Samuel Attram, Chairman, JSU of NUSPAW, Isaac Kluvia, Chairman, SSU of NUSPAW, Patrick K. Attikey, Chairman, JSU of MDU and Mustapha Alhassan, Chairman, JSU of MDU.

Minister's Intervention

“If you care to know, the downward trend of PSC Tema Shipyard dates back to 2010 when the Government of Ghana through GPHA bought the Malaysians shares from the Malaysians. The Government in 2016 handed over management of Shipyard to GHPA to look for a strategic investor to bring the Shipyard standard. Workers of Tema Shipyard have been calling for a strategic investor to revamp the ailing Shipyard since the departure of the Malaysians. The government of Ghana since 2010 have tried to satisfy the expectations of the workers but to no avail. It will interest you one more time to know that under the leadership of the Sector Minister, Hon. Asiamah, Shipyard workers were paid from government resources for a period of 11 months which, we, as workers are most grateful to him”.