Mediation Team Meets On Ghanaian Times Impasse

Accra (GAR), July 14, A mediation team representing the Ministries of Communication, Employment and Social Welfare and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union of the TUC today met with workers of the New Times Corporation (NTC) to resolve their impasse. At the meeting, held behind closed doors, were the local union as well as the editorial committee of the NTC, Mr. John Mahama, deputy Minister of Communications and Mr. Austin Gamey, deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare. The NTC Managing Director, Mr. George Aryee, against whom the workers are protesting, was not at the meeting. Briefing reporters, the two deputy Ministers said today's meeting was to lay the necessary foundation for the resolution of the workers grievances. "We don't have a solution yet but we have made some progress in preparing people's mind that we are committed to restoring normalcy," Mr. Mahama said. The workers, who have accused Mr. Aryee of gross financial irregularities, locked him and other board members out of the NTC's premises last Thursday. According to them, the lock out was "an act of positive defiance to clear the mess created by the managing director."