The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has directed the management of Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL) to immediately reverse its decision to temporarily suspend the employment contracts of all staff following flood damage to the company’s Accra facility.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 1, the Ministry said it had taken a “very strong view” of the directive contained in a circular issued by GDCL, which announced the suspension of all employment contracts effective July 1 pending a comprehensive assessment of the situation.
“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 directive comes after GDCL announced the temporary suspension of staff contracts, citing extensive damage caused by the June 29 floods, which disrupted operations at the technology hub and affected businesses operating from the facility.
The Ministry said it stood in solidarity with staff 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 statement added.
The Ministry also disclosed that the management of Ghana Digital Centres Limited had been invited to a meeting on Wednesday, July 2, to discuss the matter.
The meeting follows a visit by the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, to the centre on June 30 to assess the extent of damage caused by the floods to the facility and businesses operating within the complex.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, Christine Adwoa Agyapomaa Ansong, defended the temporary suspension of employment contracts, insisting it did not amount to dismissals.
She explained that the decision was necessitated by the extensive flood damage, which rendered parts of the facility unsafe and disrupted the centre’s ability to generate revenue.
According to her, management intends to recall staff once restoration works are completed and normal operations resume.
