Vodafone Ghana sued over wrongful dismissal

Fifteen dismissed workers of Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Vodafone Ghana), have issued a writ of summons in the Accra High Court (Labour Division), against their former employer for wrongful dismissal.

The plaintiffs are: Bawa Abdul-Majeed, Emmanuel Don Migheagles, Gordon Sackey-Mensah, Richard Edem Adanuty, Doris Lamptey, Paulins Agyeiwah Gyasi, Florence Korsah, Ayishetu Musah and Samuel Kumi-Sakyi.

The rest are Augusta Larkyne, Eugene Kotey, George Boateng, Federick Ansah Brookman, Victor Adjah and Leticia Dankwah.

The plaintiffs are claiming for a declaration that the purported termination of their employment of service for non- performance is wrongful, unlawful and null and avoid and that their supposed dismissal is a retrenchment exercised disguised as termination of employment for non-performance.

The plaintiffs are also ordering for the payment of severance awards as provided for in the collective bargaining agreement and the relevant laws and agreements, general damages for unlawful termination of appointment as well as cost.

The summons noted that the plaintiffs were employees with the company and have worked from 18 months to 12 years and as per assigned job description.

The relationship between the parties are regulated by a collective bargaining agreement between the company and Communications Workers Union of Trade Union Congress, a performance management process and term and conditions for employees.

The express terms of plaintiffs’ contract of employment provided for notice provision requiring the company to give the workers three months notice in writing if the defendant so desires to terminate the appointment or make payment in lieu of all or part of the three months notice period.

On October 5, the company without any prior notice served the plaintiffs with termination appointment letters.

The defendant stated in the letter “that your performance has been reviewed and the business has taken a decision to terminate your appointment with immediate effect”.

Source: GNA