Tullow Dialogue Kick Against By Maritime Workers

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Some of the workers clad in red band

Some of the workers clad in red band

Maritime and Dockworkers Union (MDU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on Government to stop the ongoing negotiation aimed at leasing a portion of the PSC Tema Shipyard to Tullow Ghana for the fabrication of parts of its second FPSO.

According to the workers, the relevant authorities must address the numerous challenges facing the PSC Tema Shipyard.

Ebenezer Taylor, Secretary of the Tema District Council of MDU, speaking at a press conference in Accra, said Tullow Ghana?s prominence in the PSC Tema Shipyard affair had been overrated.

He said Government must first take steps to implement the recommendation of the Chris Ackumey Committee to ensure the takeover and management of PSC Tema Shipyard by Ghana Port and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

?We find the negotiation to lease out Tema Shipyard to Tullow Ghana before the completion of the takeover processes by GPHA an unfortunate U-turn in efforts to address the management problems of the shipyard.?

?In our opinion, the starting point of resolving the Tema Shipyard problems is to place the company under the management of GPHA first before any other issue could be considered,? he said.

Mr Taylor therefore called for the immediate withdrawal of the Tullow Ghana employees from the PSC Tema shipyard.

He said the Tema Shipyard is a ?goldmine? which could create employment for more than 1,000 people, adding that the country cannot afford to toy with such an important asset.

Mr Taylor also appealed to government to offer GPHA the opportunity to present its proposals to revamp the shipyard.

?With the right management under GPHA, it is possible to develop PSC Tema shipyard into a first class modern ship-building in Africa to provide dry-dock and repairs services to ships plying the Western shoreline of Africa.?

He also urged Government to pursue the broad vision for PSC Tema Shipyard under the management of GPHA instead of limiting it to the fabrication of parts of Tullow?s FPSO.

 By Cephas Larbi

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