.....meanwhile NLC report to come out soon

Barclays Bank Ghana last Wednesday failed to appear for a meeting at the National Labour Commission (NLC).

The meeting was between the bank, the Commission and Mr Gayheart Mensah's representative at the commission's hearing,Mr John Esiapebut Barclays officials did not turn up as agreed on December 9, 2009, the last time the meeting was called.

Mr Esiape, who is also Deputy General Secretary of Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance Workers, waited for about two hours in the Commission's reception before being told that Barclays officials were not going to make it to the meeting, contrary to the day's manifest of the NLC listing that a meeting to that effect had been scheduled

A source said the January 20th date was agreed upon by Mr Mensah and his rep as well as Barclays reps which included Mr Amoako Mensah of the HR Department. There was therefore grave disappointed when the Barclays Management did not attend the meeting as programmed.

According to the source, the bank was to clarify why it contravened the Commission’s powers in ending the employment of Mr Gayheart Edem Mensah, former Communications Manager, Barclays Bank Ghana, while the matter was before the NLC. The Labour Commission was seriously working on the case as enshrined in Labour Law 651, the source said, and that a NLC committee would soon present its report on investigations conducted into the matter.

The NLC had advised the bank in August last year to try to resolve disagreements between the Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana, Mr Ernest Debrah and Mr Mensah but a resolution was not reached when Management ended Mr Mensah’s job in September 2009 without the input of the NLC.

On September 2, 2009, the bank’s Legal Head, Eirene Quainoo, notified the NLC that there was still no resolution on the matter. The NLC had not yet responded when then Acting HR Manager, Mr Antwi on September 3, 2009, wrote to Mr Mensah terminating his employment with the bank with effect from that date without detailing any reason. The Barclays MD, Mr Debrah on the same 3rd September, wrote to colleague staff members notifying them of Mr Mensah’s termination.

The labour authority then cautioned Barclays Bank to review that action as it breached not only Labour Act 651 but was also usurping and contemptuous of the commission’s powers.

Mr Esiape said all they needed was for the NLC to ensure that the Management follows the requirements of Labour Act 651 pertaining to such occurrences.

The former employee was appointed a board member of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) middle last year. Some observers hinted that this appointment could have ignited the termination. He had jobbed in his earlier years as a journalist with the Ghanaian Times. After further studies, he worked as the Unilever Corporate Affairs Manager before moving to Barclays.

The Barclays MD, who took office in the latter years of the NPP regime, was bothered by some security operatives over his vehicle when the government took power. The bank recorded profit of GH¢ 6,795 in 2008 compared to GH¢ 30,678 in 2007. Barclays has operated in Ghana for over 90 years and is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Barclays PLC, UK. \\\\\ END

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