AMA to Suspend 25 Staff for Lateness

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has served notice that it will suspend 25 workers of the Assembly who reported to work late on Wednesday.

Public Relations Officer for the AMA, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, told Citi News the staff have already been handed query letters.

Authorities at the AMA ordered the closure of the gate to the office at exactly 8:30 am, in a move to tackle lateness to work, a common practice within the public sector space.

The AMA PRO, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, says the move is to ensure productivity improves at the workplace.

Despite being queried, he says no matter their responses, they would be suspended for for a period.

“They were just locked up and asked to go back home and come back today [Thursday] for their query letter, and explain why they came in late. Currently, those whose names appear on this very list will be suspended. They will be suspended for a period yet to be fixed by management,” he said.

50 Metro Mass workers sent home

A similar incident occurred on Tuesday at the head office of the Metro Mass Transit Services in Accra, when the Board Chairman paid an unannounced visit and discovered most workers were coming in late.

Corporate Communications Manager of Metro Mass Transit, George Krobea Asante, told Citi News that the management of the company will meet to determine what further sanctions will be meted out to the affected workers.

“In his [Ahmed Arthur’s] wisdom, he asked them to go back to their houses for a decision to be taken later by management.

“Whatever decision that management has to take will be in line with what is provided within the collective bargaining agreement of the workers.”

Mr. Krobea Asante stressed that punctuality was a basic tenet of the transport industry hence the need for discipline.

Other actions against lateness

Railways Development Minister, Joe Ghartey, in January 2018 also cracked the whip on staff with a penchant for lateness to work when he sent home 14 of them who reported to work late.

The affected staff comprised nine permanent staff and five national service personnel. Mr. Ghartey’s actions were to improve the levels of discipline within his outfit.

However, the Minister did not take any further action against the workers, and reports indicated that their attitude changed for the better.

“It was a wake-up call, and I will monitor their response which I believe will be positive… I have to put on record that the staff have worked very hard last year [2017], but I am just asking them to work harder,” he said.

Showmanship or real action?

Not many are impressed with these actions which are largely considered to be acts of showmanship by top officials, who should rather be focusing on instituting an improved systems to ensure that the discipline of punctuality becomes a part of people, and that people get punished for flouting the rules.

Source: Citinewsroom