The incident where a female Ghanaian kitchen staffer’s face was dipped into a paste of pepper by Jihad Chaaban, her Lebanese supervisor at Marwako Fast Food, is akin to slavery that must be condemned, Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance, (IDEG) has said.

Speaking on State of Affairs hosted by Nana Aba Anamoah on GHOne, he said: “They (workers) have to unionise to end this. Many of these companies do not even allow people to organise, and, so, when they are facing this kind of brutality, which is violence, which is like slavery, [they are unable to resist it]. Unless workers unite, unless they are unionised with their rights consolidated collectively, these abuses may not stop, these abuses probably have been going on for a long time.”

“It is the first time it is probably out in the public space but it might be happening across and I think that she deserves compensation as well. We have to be in a situation where the weak in the society feel they are protected by the law and that is the only thing that will deter those who feel powerful to maltreat them or to treat them as is happening. So, it must be condemned unreservedly but we shouldn't stop there, the law must be enforced.”

Meanwhile, Jihad has been formally charged with assault. He was granted bail after being put before court on Tuesday, 7 March.

The Ghana Police Service on Tuesday has assured that justice would be served.

The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, ASP Afia Tengey, told Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom, on Accra100.5FM on Tuesday: “We are meeting them, the victim, today. We will also meet the management of Marwako depending on what the regional commander will deem fit. I will be very glad if this matter will be used as a test case because one cannot be treated this way in his or her own country by a foreigner or even Ghanaian.”

“On our part as police, I can assure you that we are doing everything within every legitimate length to ensure that justice is served to this lady.”