Shama youth want DCE sacked, demand 40% of Aboadze power enclave jobs

Some youth of Aboadze and Abuesi, both fishing communities in the Shama District of the Western Region are calling for the removal of their District Chief Executive, Joseph Amoah, for allegedly interfering in the recruitment process at the Aboadze thermal power enclave.

They claim the DCE is ensuring the recruitment of non-natives to work for Amandi Energy, the company managing the power enclave.

They said failure to sack the DCE will ruin the NPP’s chances in the 2020 elections.

They also are demanding a 40% employment stake at the thermal power enclave for the youth of the area.

“There should be a specific quota of at least 40% to the Aboadze community, and the rest for the others because we will be the immediate people to suffer when there is any unforeseen circumstances by the activities of the company,” Convener of the Youth, Isaac Kofi Afful said at a press conference.

Aboadze and Abuesi are the host communities of Ghana’s strategic Aboadze Thermal Power Enclave in the Western Region with a current generating capacity of over one thousand and 42 megawatts.

The youth of these communities who are unhappy, resorted to the press conference following last month’s agitations over the Shama DCE, Joseph Amoah’s alleged cancellation of the communities’ earlier employment arrangement with Amandi Energy.

The Convener of the Youth stating their case, said the DCE’s alleged interference is unusual at the power enclave.

“…It has come to our notice that the permanent workers are employed outside the community in question, and the few being employed are casual workers. We recommend our people to be employed on permanent basis based on their qualifications,” he added.

“Moreover, we stand to disagree with the DCE on the idea of making the district assembly the centre for employment for the on-going project at Aboadze. We would like to ask our DCE what he has done for the Aboadze community since he was appointed, and we vehemently say that he has done nothing for Aboadze/Abuesi community.”

The Assembly member of Aboadze, Isaac Peaceful Baidoo, who has become the face of demands for fair share of jobs was also unhappy over the development and expressed dissatisfaction with the DCE.

The Caretaker Chief of Aboadze, Nana Kwaw Miano also said he supports the demands of the youth.

“We want to ensure that they are employed. The saying that it is a national cake cannot hold since there are examples of local content employment in places like the Dwabeso Cocoa replanting project,” he said.

I’ve not interfered with Aboadze thermal plant recruitment – DCE

But the Shama DCE has rejected allegations he’s interfering in recruitment processes at the Aboadze thermal power plant.

“How can the assembly be an employment agency for any company? I haven’t done that. We have a lot on our hands to do. Why should we be employing for others?”

He, however, said there had rather been an arrangement involving the Western Region Minister and other opinion leaders on the best approach needed to get the youth in the area employed.

Source: citinewsroom.com