Workers of the National Lottery Authority laid down their tools and shut down operations at the Authority’s head office in Accra on August 24.
The NLA Local Union, under the Financial, Business and Services Employees Union, took action over what the workers describe as institutional neglect, poor working conditions, and unfair salary.
The workers closed their offices as they abandoned their posts to demonstrate.
Brennan Hall, where the NLA conducts its lottery draw operations, was also shut, affecting scheduled operations.
The workers explained that they will not return to work until management responds to their concerns, saying that management has failed to provide adequate operational tools and investment, despite the revenue generated by the Authority.
The union chairman, Eric Tamakloe, noted that ongoing salary negotiations were unfair.
“We’ve done all the mathematics. Restore us. We can be restored to what we were going home with in 2024: 15%. Nothing less, which means that we may not even be getting anything on top of our salary. But at least it is just to restore us. It cannot be that the money I go home with in 2024, after 2025, 5% increase, assuming we accept 2026, 12%, they are pushing down our throats.
Even if we accepted that, we will still be going home with less than what we’re going home with in 2024. Which union will accept that? Which worker will accept that? So that is what we want management to do.”
He further called for the removal of the NLA Director-General, Alhaji Mohammed Abdul-Salam, accusing him of failing to protect their interests.
“We believe that the reset agenda that was promised us, which we bought into, has no place in it. Suppression by a man like Mohammed Salam. We will not be suppressed. We will not be disrespected.
As for this appointment, I believe Mahama made a mistake. He needs to look back and get this man out. Because of the disrespect and the disconnect in terms of the relationship, we don’t think we can work with him again.”
As events unfolded during the protest, union leadership said they had been summoned to Labour Minister’s office to engage them on the concerns raised by the workers.
It is reported that the meeting further led to discussions involving the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the NLA Board Chairman and union representatives, resulting in staff calling off their sit-down strike.
Workers are therefore expected to return to their normal duties.
By Samuel Yeboah Adams
