GRA Workers Union Requests Meeting With Commissioner-General Over GBC Land

Embarrassed staff union of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has requested a meeting with its Commissioner-General over complaints by the Workers Union of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) over GRA Management’s moves to take over their land near the Jubilee House, 

A September 13, 2021 memo from the Divisional Chairman of the GRA’s Public Service Workers Union, George Amadu Awinbilla, said the meeting should be held as soon as practicable.

“…We wish to reiterate our stand that our new head office building must be constructed on our land at the airport area to befit the status of GRA as a world-class revenue administration recognized for professionalism and excellence. In view of the above, and consequence to the letter from our colleagues from GBC, we humbly request for a meeting between organized labor and your good self as soon as practicable for an update on the issue,” the GRA staff union wrote.

There has been speculation that the GRA Management is trying to take over the GBC lands after Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, took over the GRA’s land at the prime airport area.

A few weeks ago, the unionized staff of GBC had warned that it would resist moves by the GRA to take over a piece of land belonging to the state broadcaster.

Chairman of the GBC Unionized Staff, Sam Nat Kevor, had written to the Divisional Chairman of the GRA, expressing unhappiness over GRA Management’s covetousness. Mr. Kevor also asked the unionized staff of the GRA to warn its Management to stop its move.

“This is also to (implore) our comrades to take steps to rein in their management to stop the unlawful takeover of GBC lands,” the letter said.

The land in question is described by the letter as “GBC Old House lands near Jubilee House and is said to have come under the invasion of bulldozers from the GRA.

 “The GRA can equally make use of this prime land for whatever it deemed it fit, and not expropriation of GBC lands. We are by this drawing the attention of GRA Unionized staff to this illegality which GBC workers shall resist with all lawful means at our disposal,” the letter from the GBC staff union complained.