Business News of Tuesday, 4 September 2012

Source: The Herald

Nestle-Ghana Accused Of Witch-Hunt

By Cecil Mensah

The workers of Nestle Ghana Limited, a leading beverage manufacturer, are preparing for a showdown with the Ghanaians in management over the circulation of a re-application forms asking them to re- apply for the various positions they are already occupying or risk being sacked.

Insiders suspect the Ghanaian managers are on a witch-hunting expedition as the applications form started circulating shortly after The Herald’s exposé of the inhumane treatment of the workers at the company’s Tema factory line.

The Herald is informed that that some workers were holding onto to their resignation letters in preparedness for a showdown between them and the Human Resource (HR) Manager, Agnes Kafui Forson, who is said to be the force behind the re-application agenda.

The workers, especially those at the factory line, have difficulties with their compatriots in management position for not protecting their interest as they kowtow to the whims and caprices of the expatriate workers.

The circulation of the re-application forms has come about as a result of management’s suspicion that staff, particularly those at the factory has been divulging some vital information to the media in spite of an earlier warnings to them to desist from doing so.

The Herald is informed that whilst the Ghanaian managers take fat allowances and huge monthly salaries, their Ghanaian counterparts at the factory line in Tema are taking paltry sums as salaries creating the picture painted in George Orwell’s allegorical book, Animal Farm.

Since The Herald’s story on the inhumanities being perpetuated by Ghanaians on their fellow compatriots in partnership with the expatriate workers, the paper’s office has been inundated with calls, emails and drop box information about the activities in the company with regard to the management style.

The leadership of the workers union is said to have made several appeals to get management to change its management style towards those on the factory floor, but the appeals have fallen on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, this paper is informed that over twenty-two Senior Staff members have since resigned from the company over what they perceive as mismanagement of the company by some of the Ghanaian managers, some of whom have attained the retiring age of sixty, but are still at post.

The names of the top members of management who have resigned so far are: Mr. Philip Ofosu, the Finance & Administration Manager; Cecilia Dei-Annang, the Corporate Communication Manager;

Mr. Samson Antwi, the Factory H.R Officer & SAP HR Administrator; Anthony Bassaw, the Accounts Officer and Mrs. Laryea, the Compensations and Benefits Manager.

The rest are: Michael; the Infant Nutrition Brands Manager; Mr. Oblie, the Safety, Health and Environment Manager; Mr. Evans Wilson, the Asst. Manager, Milks; Mr. Evans Wilson, Asst.Manager in charge of milks; Mr. Aggrey, the HR Administrator.

Mr. Akoto, the Supervisor in charge of Cereals; Mr. Sam Brew, the Manager in charge of Cereals; Mr. Amoako-Mensah, the Industrial Relations manager; Mr. Atitiati, the S.H.E Manager; Mrs. Joyce Awuah, the HR Manager; Mr. C.K Williams, the Logistics officer; Mr. Michael Adjei; the SAP supervisor.

Then finally, Mr. Emma Atepor, the logistics supervisor; Mr. Koomson, the supply chain supervisor; Mr. Edward Ofori, in charge of Supply; Mr. Samuel Tawiah; the Logistics Manager; Mr. Isaac Fosu, Supervisor and Mr. Okantey, also a supervisor.

Nestle Ghana is the manufacturer of Milo, Ideal cream milk, Carnation milk, Nescafe coffee, Nescafe two-in-one, Nido and Maggi seasoning cube for the Ghanaian market. More to come!!!