Govt worried about forcible redundancy at Vodafone - Iddrisu

Accra, Aug. 4, GNA - Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Communication, on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction about the decision by Vodafone Ghana to forcibly lay off some of its workforce as part of its restructuring process.

He expressed Government's unhappiness about the issue and urged the Management of the Company and the local workers union to dialogue in order to come out with a solution that would be acceptable to both parties as far as the redundancy was concerned.

Interacting with this year's contestants of Ghana Youth Ambassador Project during a courtesy call on him, Mr Iddrisu said although restructuring was part of Vodafone's agreement with the previous Government and that they had even set aside about 14 million dollars to cover workers who might be affected, it should be done in a more humane manner.

Vodafone bought 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom last year. He said as part of the Government's commitment to the youth, it would soon roll out its comprehensive policy on the youth, which would cover employment, agriculture, Information and Communication Technology and HIV/AIDS education.

"There will also be Youth Policy on Nationalism, which would seek to inculcate in the Ghanaian youth the need to be dedicated to their country."

The Minister appealed to the contestants to be focused in all that they embarked on and not to be daunted by challenges but to work to overcome them. "Hasten cautiously in all your endeavours. Have dreams but do not become over ambitious and learn to live lives worthy of public acceptance," he said.

He said the Ministry of Communication was liaising with the Ministry of Education to provide selected secondary and tertiary institutions with computers to boost the ICT knowledge of students. Mr Gideon Oyiadzo, Chief Executive Officer of Schoolmate Investments, organizer of Ghana Youth Ambassador Project, expressed concern about the time that senior high school graduates spent at home before gaining admission into tertiary institutions. "This is the main reason why we have embarked on this Project so that SHS graduates would become occupied with some ambassadorial and social activities for the period that they have to stay at home before any further education," he said.

He said on August 9 the grand finale would be held at the Accra International Conference Centre where all the 30 contestants would be given the opportunity to showcase their talents and eloquence. "One male and one female would be chosen to represent the country in a youth programme in Europe next year and also embark on some voluntary projects in the country," he said.