Kejetia phase II stall forces CONTRACTA to lay off 150 workers
Workers on the stalled Kejetia Phase II Market Project in Kumasi have reportedly been hit with massive layoffs as construction company CONTRACTA is said to have dismissed about 150 employees, including engineers, technicians and labourers.
The affected workers are said to constitute nearly two-thirds of the total workforce on the project.
According to sources close to the company, the decision was taken after months of inactivity on the project site, with workers staying home while still receiving monthly salaries despite the halt in construction works.
Sources revealed that an agreement allegedly existed between the Government of Ghana and CONTRACTA where government was expected to subsidize part of the workers’ salaries during the period of inactivity.
However, the agreement is said to have not been honoured, placing a huge financial burden solely on the construction company.
The Kejetia Phase II Project, which was expected to complement the first phase of the redeveloped Kejetia Market, has remained stalled for years, raising concerns among traders, residents and workers about the future of the project.
Some of the affected workers who spoke to Silver News Akwadaa Nyame expressed frustration and disappointment over the situation, appealing passionately to the Government of Ghana to release funds for the continuation of the project.
According to them, resumption of work would not only revive the project but also restore their source of livelihood.
“We are pleading with government to release the money for the project to continue so that we can return to work and earn something for our families,” one affected worker lamented.
Others said the layoffs will pushed many families into severe hardship, warning that unemployment and economic pressure could drive some people into desperate situations.
“This is the only work some of us do to survive. If we are laid off and there is no alternative, people may be forced to do anything possible just to feed their families,” another worker stated.
The development has sparked fresh concerns over delays surrounding the Kejetia Phase II Project and the impact it is having on workers and the local economy in Kumasi.
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