A former employee of Meridian Port Services (MPS) has filed a lawsuit against the company over allegations of unfair termination, violation of statutory laws, and infringement of his rights.
In a suit dated September 4, 2025, the plaintiff, Kpordotsi Wisdom Yaw, accused his former employer of arbitrarily declaring him and five other workers redundant in June 2021 without prior notice to the Chief Labour Officer or the labour union, in violation of Ghana’s labour laws.
According to the statement of claim, on June 11, 2021, while resting at home, the plaintiff received an unusual call from the company’s Human Resource Officer, requesting him to report for a letter, even though he was scheduled to work that evening.
He rushed to the office, only to be handed a letter declaring him and five others redundant with immediate effect. He described the action as unconstitutional and a breach of statutory law.
The plaintiff further alleged that Meridian Port Services had earlier secured a tax waiver of $832 million on the assurance of job security and protection of state revenue.
He argued that the decision to declare him and others redundant without due process amounted to deception against the state and a violation of trust.
Meridian Port Services, a joint venture between the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Meridian Port Holdings Limited, is a major player in Ghana’s maritime industry, focusing on container terminal operations, shore handling, stevedoring, storage, and delivery.
Mr. Kpordotsi insisted that redundancy is normally implemented on a larger scale and in accordance with statutory law or contractual terms.
He described the company’s actions as unconstitutional, malicious, and discriminatory.
He further claimed that MPS disregarded an order of the Labour Court to pay his accumulated salaries and related benefits, arguing instead that the court’s ruling was ambiguous.
The plaintiff also accused the company of cruelty, stating that it deactivated his medical access, putting his health at risk.
He argued that this violated provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), specifically Sections 12.4 and 12.9 of the Employees Bargaining Union conditions of service.
He contended that the company was attempting to compel him to accept unethical labour practices.
He accused MPS of acting in bad faith, especially after benefiting from a massive tax waiver while worsening unemployment in the country.
The plaintiff is seeking multiple reliefs, including:
- A declaration that his termination was unfair and violated his human rights under Article 17(2) and (3) of the 1992 Constitution, as well as Section 6.2 of the CBA.
- A declaration that the company’s actions amounted to promissory estoppel.
- A declaration that the deactivation of his medical access violated the CBA.
- An order for payment of 120 months’ gross salary as lump sum remuneration pursuant to Article 12 of the CBA.
- Severance pay equivalent to 120 months’ gross salary for each year of service.
- Payment of accumulated salaries, allowances, and benefits from May 2022 until final judgment.
The case is scheduled to be heard at the High Court on September 8, 2025.
Source: Latif Iddrisu
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