Accra, Sept 24, GNA – Management of Akosombo
Textiles Limited (ATL) has denied media report that it has laid off 200
employees.
A statement issued by Management of ATL and
copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said: “It has come to the notice
of the management of Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL) that a series of
inaccurate stories have been making waves on some media platforms over the past
few days.
“Management would therefore like to
inform its distinguished customers, the media, and the general public that it
has not laid off 200 employees as reported and has no plans to lay off its
workers. Rather, the company is in the process of increasing our production
activities from 2 shifts to 3 shifts, which will require us to employ more
people in the near future.
“It is also untrue and misleading that
600 workers of ATL have been sent home due to lack of raw materials”, the
statement said.
The statement said: “Our organization like any
other that utilizes machinery, has scheduled times for production and
maintenance. Our downtimes ought not to be misreported as signs of layoff.
“As stated by his Excellency the Vice
President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during his key note address at the opening
ceremony of the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition 2018 at AICC on Tuesday,
September 18, 2018, ATL will be producing the fabric for uniforms of the
100,000 graduates under the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), as part of
Government’s industrialization drive and to revive the textile industry. This
in addition to other contracts will boost our business”, the statement
said.
It said in addition, the Ministry of Trade and
Industry in collaboration with the textile manufacturers and traders has
planned a roadmap, aimed at reviving the local textile industry and promoting
made-in-Ghana fabrics, which includes the implementation of the Tax Stamp to
curb smuggling and to protect intellectual property rights of manufacturers in
Ghana.
It said it is worthy to note that as part of
government policy to boost the textiles industry, ATL was a proud recipient of
a government stimulus package in August 2018 to support the company’s
operations. The injection has assisted the organization to complete a number of
exercises including clearing of salary arrears, which is scheduled to be
completed by the end of October.
“Finally, we would like to assure our
hardworking Employees, Clients, Customers, Suppliers and the public that we are
still in operation, therefore all such inaccurate stories should be
disregarded. Our research and product development team are currently working on
new brands and products intended to be launched in November for the Christmas
Season. ATL – whatever the occasion whenever people come together – you will
find ATL “bringing fabrics to life”, the statement said.
GNA