ICOUR workers lock out managing director for overstaying in office

Employees of the Irrigation Company of Upper Regions (ICOUR) have taken matters into their own hands by locking out their managing director, Benedict Bonaventure Aligebam. 

Frustrated over what they see as his unlawful tenure extension, they have resorted to drastic action to press their demands.

On Monday (4 November) morning, staff at the irrigation company’s head office sealed off Aligebam’s office, asserting that he has overstayed his welcome in violation of company policy. 

The workers’ protest didn’t stop there—they also secured the office of the company accountant. Yet, despite these disruptions, the rest of the company’s operations continued unhindered.

Jibril Adams, the ICOUR branch chairman of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) under the Trades Union Congress (TUC), shared the employees’ frustrations in an interview with Asaase News.

According to Adams, the saga began last year when the company’s Human Resources Department directed Aligebam to proceed with mandatory retirement. 

However, instead of complying, Aligebam sought an extension from then-ICOUR board chairman and former Upper East regional minister, Stephen Yakubu.

Yakubu forwarded the request to the Minister of Agriculture, who ultimately granted a temporary three-month reprieve. But once that extension expired in March 2024, Aligebam refused to step down.

“In the history of ICOUR, no manager has ever been granted a post-retirement contract,” Adams emphasised. 

“Now, Dr. Aligebam was seeking a two-year post-retirement contract. He put in a request to the board of directors. The board chairman wrote a recommendation for a two-year post-retirement contract, as requested, and forwarded it to the agriculture minister.” 

“The agriculture minister reviewed it, referred to our CBA terms of engagement, and stated that no such provision exists for any staff. However, because Dr. Aligebam had overstayed by a few days, the minister decided to grant him an unprecedented three-month extension.”

Despite these concessions, Adams claimed that Aligebam remained adamant. “The Human Resources officer of ICOUR has since written to him, instructing him to proceed with his retirement and hand over all company property in his possession. He did not comply,” Adams recounted.

“The extension was effective from 8 December 2023, to 7 March 2024. The board chairman, who was then the Upper East Regional Minister, Honourable Stephen Yakubu, also wrote to him to hand over because the three-month extension had expired, yet he did not oblige.”

“The Chief of Staff, Office of the President, has also written to him, stating, ‘Please, cease holding yourself, cease holding office as Managing Director of ICOUR,’ as his tenure ended on 7 March 2024. This letter exists.”

Despite receiving multiple directives from various authorities, Adams noted, Aligebam has refused to vacate the office. 

The workers, who view his actions as breaches of both company policy and national law, argue that they are simply enforcing the rule of law.

With Adams stating that the locking of the offices is part of the workers’ mandate to uphold the constitution and the Criminal Offences Act, which charges citizens with preventing the commission of crime.

Although the Managing Director’s office remains sealed, other departments are continuing with their daily operations. 

At the time of filing this report, multiple attempts to reach Dr Aligebam for his side of the story had proven unsuccessful.

The standoff at ICOUR adds to a growing list of disputes between management and workers in Ghana, highlighting tensions over post-retirement contracts and the enforcement of institutional policies.

Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region

Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand

The post ICOUR workers lock out managing director for overstaying in office appeared first on Asaase Radio.