Members of the Telecom Engineering Workers Association of Ghana (TEWAG) have threatened to lay down their tools indefinitely due to poor conditions of service, despite the risks with their work.
According to acting Chairman of the Association, Norris Yeboah, pleas for better conditions have fallen on deaf ears and that is the reason why they intend to withdraw their services until their leaders attend to them with better offers.
He shockingly revealed they have been receiving threats of being replaced by their Nigerian counterparts due to their call for better conditions and poor salary structure.
“We’re really suffering. They refuse to give us what we deserve. The most painful part is that we fight for our own insurance, SSNIT and whenever you complain, they take you out of the contract, which is not fair.
“We risk our lives to climb and install service machines on high masks (towers) that belong to the various telecommunication networks such as Airtel/Tigo, MTN and Vodafone,” he said.
Mr Yeboah added that some contractors who negotiate contracts with the various telcos refuse to give them the expected amount they are supposed to receive.
He, however, pleaded with the authorities to, as a matter of urgency, look at their toils and attend to their calls.
“We undertake the construction of the cell sites (civil engineers), electrical installation, the tower erection and the installation of the equipment on towers (poles) for MTN, Tigo, Voda, Glo etc for the people of Ghana to enjoy better networks services.
“Our authorities must do the needful to improve our conditions of service,” he urged.