Accra hotel responds to protest staged by former workers

Accra Beach Hotel and Spa insists that it has kept lines of communication open with its former staff and has been fair and transparent.

The statement comes on the heels of protest action staged by former employees last Thursday, who accused the South Coast property of attempting to deprive them of vacation pay while refusing to inform them about how and when their severance would be forthcoming.

Management, however, maintained this was not the case.

“All employees who ended their employment with Accra Beach Hotel & Spa have been paid their vacation pay. Some persons queried the payment and contacted us directly. All queries were addressed and resolved,” the hotel said.

It further explained that at the height of the pandemic it sought to “ communicate with all staff when possible and continued to provide services such as medical insurance, paying both the employer and employees’ portion of the plan.

The hotel also pointed out that it held zoom meetings with its 360 employees. It said 80 per cent of staff attended the meetings where they were assured that everything was being done to reopen the property.

Accra management also went on to dismiss suggestions that employees who filed for severance were not rehired while only a few new employees were retained.

The hotel said, “It is unfortunate that 42% of our staff have ended their contracts with the hotel and have applied for severance, however, we will do all in our power to ensure that they receive what is due to them

“Accra however did confirm that it could not make the severance payments and workers would have to rely on the National Insurance Scheme.

“All persons who have applied for severance are being directed to the National Insurance Scheme as we are not in a financial position to meet such a commitment,” the statement said.