Tema (Greater Accra) 18 March '99

The Acting Regional Police Commander for Tema has ordered immediate investigations into alleged cases of assault on some workers of the Textiles, Garment and Leather Union (TEGLU) by their colleagues at the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company(GTMC) in Tema. Chief Superintendent Agnes Sikanartey told the GNA that two workers of the TEGLU who were reportedly assaulted by workers of the GTMC showed bruises and lacerations they sustained on their bodies and were sent to the Tema General Hospital after they had written their statements. Their names are, however, being withheld. According to the police commander, some of the ICU workers whipped the TEGLU workers when they were identified at the factory gate soon after closing hours on Tuesday. Others allegedly used clubs to beat the workers but no arrests have been made. Mr Joseph Djani, Personnel Manager of GTMC, said two other workers of TEGLU, namely Mr George Gyarteng and Mr John Akapo, who were also assaulted by the ICU workers, reported to him in his house at Labadi in Accra after close of work last Tuesday. One of them was able to give him the names of his attackers but said the GTMC management had not taken any action against those involved in the incident. He had, however, invited the leadership of the local ICU and warned them that management viewed the brutalities committed against TEGLU workers with all seriousness, he said. Mr Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of TEGLU, said due to intimidation by the TEGLU workers, some of them now fear to report for work.