The Professional and managerial Staff Union of the Industrial and Commercial Union of the Bulk oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (PMSU-ICU of BOST) has condemned, as an act of cowardice the laying of wreath by an unknown person or persons wishing the Managing Director of BOST, dead.
In a press statement issued in Accra by the PMSU-ICU of BOST and copied to BOST Board of Directors, BOST General Managers, ICU National, as well as BOST Senior Staff Platform, condemned such act in its entirety, since they find it morally wrong to wish death for the living.
While, describing the development as alien to Ghanaian culture, they also took on the MD of BOST, Edwin Provencal, for linking the staff to the wreaths, insisting that such “loose comments and unsubstantiated allegations have the potential of hurting the professional reputation and careers of all BOST workers”.
Last Monday morning, wreaths were found laid at the entrance of the office bearing the name of Edwin Provencal with inscriptions “RIP Mr. Edwin Provencal”, “Rest well”, “Rest in peace in advance Edwin Provencal”, among others.
Media publications, have sought to blame the workers as those behind the wreaths with Edwin Provencal, saying BOST was becoming an issue due to the varying conflicts of interest that is making it difficult for any appointed officer to salvage the image of the company, adding that BOST had suffered successive scandals.
“Lately, transport owners’ activities on the adulteration and tampering of seals which is curbed by BOST and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has made us targets,” he told Graphiconline.
He stated that the action of the workers was meant to stop the rot in the system to restore the image of the company and allow the government to rake in the needed revenues could be a factor that is allowing leading transporters who seem disgruntled about the Accra-Kumasi pipeline taking away their business.
The workers union, stated that they disagree and take serious exception to the interview granted by Mr Provencal, in which he suggested that workers could have done such an insensitive act.
“Website links of the said interview with the Daily Graphic online and carried by other news portal has been provided for your review”, the statement stated, and pointed out that the MD has the option of providing evidence to support such allegation or retract and apologize immediately.
“In fact, upon the receipt of this statement, the MD is entreated to do the needful within five working days from the date of this statement failing which the union would be forced to use all other means available to it to defend and protect the reputation of all staff that has worked day and night to achieve BOST corporate goals”, the statement demanded.
The workers union noted that the performance management systems predates Mr Provencal and new models introduced by him, have also been wholly embraced by all staff, including the unions who serve as mouthpiece for various staff categories, it therefore, beats their imagination that he would suggests they are resisting his reforms at BOST.
“Which disgruntled staff are worried about the introduction of rigorous performance management systems to drive performance? It quizzed”.
The statement concluded that in as much as everybody is a suspect in the case, including the MD himself, they admonish all to allow the Police to investigate the issues to its logical conclusion and the culprit made to face the full rigor of the law.
“We send a note of caution to whoever is behind this unwholesome death wishing behaviour, trying to create bad publicity for BOST, its management and to tarnish the image of all workers to stand well”, it added.
Meanwhile, the Board Chairman of BOST, MrEkow Hackman, has stated the Board, has taken inventory of the laying of wreaths bearing the name of Mr Provencal in front of the head office building in the early hours of Monday, February 7, 2022.
In a press release signed by Board Chairman copied to Peacefmonline.com, he indicated the awareness of the Board of reports in the media about interviews allegedly granted by officials of BOST on the incident.
Additionally, he said that the incident had been reported to the appropriate security agencies for investigations to be conducted.
“Pending the outcome of the investigations, the board entreats Management and Staff of BOST to remain calm and to refrain from granting further interviews which may cast aspersions on any person or group either within or outside of BOST”, the statement read.
He, however, on behalf of the Board urged the management and staff of BOST to continue to work in harmony and remained focused on consolidating the gains the company has made in recent times.
