Senior staff and unionised workers of Taysec Construction Limited have indicated that they are embarking on a sit-down strike to press home their demand for serenity in the company and also the expeditious resolution of a recent standoff.
According to the workers, the company’s foreign and Ghanaian shareholders have been embroiled in litigations in recent times.
They stated that the development is likely to deny workers their service entitlements.
In a press release issued jointly by the senior staff and unionised workers in Accra, they noted that it is their right (as per Act 651, Part III 9& 10 of the Labour Act 2003) to work in a safe and stable environment.
The workers from Taysec Construction Limited, Taysec Homes Limited and Taysec Facilities Management Limited said in the last few months they have witnessed the struggle for control of the company by the two British shareholders, namely Messrs Geoffrey Michael Fisher and Liam Francis McVeigh, Managing and Operations Directors respectively, on one hand, and Asuama Yeboa Abebrese, the Ghanaian shareholder and Financial Director on the other.
They said on 4th September, 2012, the three shareholders, Messrs Fisher, McVeigh and Abebrese signed a board resolution commencing separation proceedings and relinquishing the issued shares of Messrs Fisher and McVeigh to Abebrese.
The resolution went on to request the appointment of an independent valuer to value the companies.
International accounting firm KPMG was appointed to value the company shares and they subsequently submitted a valuation report.
At another shareholders’ meeting on Thursday, 30th May, 2013, all three shareholders agreed to adopt the median value stipulated in the valuation report in the presence of their lawyers at the offices of Fugar and Co., who acted as mediators in the matter.
At the meeting, they said it was agreed that Mr Abebrese should formally make an offer for the shares of Messrs Fisher and McVeigh.
On 31st May, 2013, Mr. Abebrese, in fulfilment of the resolution, communicated his offer to buy out Messrs Fisher and McVeigh while also he acquired the shares of Messrs Fisher and McVeigh in all the companies as per the terms of the offer.
It is our understanding that by virtue of the acquisition, Mr Abebrese becomes 100 per cent shareholder of Taysec Homes and Taysec Facilities Management and 95 per cent shareholder in Taysec Construction Limited.
All the above dealings and meetings between the shareholders were mediated by Fugar and Co., Legal practitioners who are also solicitors for the companies.
Messrs Fisher and McVeigh, upon receiving the offer letter and acquisition of share notice on 31st May, 2013, wrote a notice purporting to dismiss Mr Abebrese as an employee of Taysec and caused the notice to be placed on the front door of the head office on the night of 3rd June, 2013.
“Although we acknowledge that we are not shareholders of the above companies it goes without saying that it is our dedication, sweat and hard work that built this company and made it one of the most reputable firms in the country.
“The current impasse has now degenerated into mudslinging, untrue allegations and use of security personnel to create a hostile environment in the full glare of members of staff,” they emphasised.
By Samuel Boadi