NPP Middle East denies allegation of gov’t recruiting workers to Gulf countries

 NPP Middle East denies allegation of gov’t recruiting workers to Gulf countries

The Saudi Arabia branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has denied allegations making the rounds on social media and on some traditional news platforms that the Ghana government has clandestinely signed an agreement with authorities of the Saudi government to recruit workers to Gulf countries.

The Ghana government in June 2017 placed a temporary ban on recruitment of workers to Gulf countries after a hike in reported cases of abuse faced by migrant workers.

The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, announced the suspension saying there is a freeze on issuance of recruitment licenses as part of measures to curb the abuses.

Currently there is a video which has gone viral on social media and it is said to be coming from one Muntala Mallah, a Ghanaian based in Saudi Arabia claiming to have chanced upon an agreement which is alleged to be between Ghana and the Arabian governments where Ghana government will be the sole agent recruiting workers from Ghana to Gulf countries.

In the video, Mr. Mallah was heard saying the agreement was signed on behalf of the government by the 2nd Lady Samira Bawumia.

He also alleged that the office of the second lady has employed only NPP functionaries both in and outside the Gulf countries.

Reacting to the video and its content in an exclusive interview with Today newspaper, the Chairman of the NPP Middle East Branch and a security expert, Mr. Isaac Osae stated categorically there is no such agreement between the two countries.

According to him, he had checked from the presidency, the Foreign Affairs ministry, the MELRs, the Ghanaian Embassy in Saudi and there is nothing of such nature.

“I will like to use this medium to urge all party faithful, and the good people of Ghana to treat the video with the utmost contempt it deserve.” He said.

Mr. Osae explained that none of the executives or members from the various units in the Gulf countries has been tasked to carry out such none-existing assignment.

“I want to reemphasis that this video and other similar videos yet to come are all calculated attempt by the opponents of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo led administration to disgrace and cause disaffection for the party and the president.” the Chairman of the NPP Middle East Branch lamented.

According to him, he of the high hope that the NPP and Nana Addo led government will soon outdoor concrete measures to regulate the recruitment of workers to Gulf countries to curb the allegedly reported cases of abuse faced by Ghanaian migrants.

“Nana Addo is doing very well to see Ghana develop like the countries it began with but certain characters are bunt on seeing this administration not to succeed thus doing everything possible to sabotage him” Mr. Osae reiterated.

He is therefore calling on Ghanaians both home and abroad to come together and help the NPP led government to succeed.

Source: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Writer’s email: [email protected]