GPHA warns workers against drug abuse, alcoholism

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has cautioned that it would sanction personnel who would be caught using drugs and alcohol at the work place since such practices endangers their health, and leads to low productivity.

The Authority announced that it would begin random checks, including the use of breathalyses in order to identify workers who would use alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs during working hours, and punish offenders.

The Director of Tema Port, Sandra Opoku, issued the warning during the opening of a two-day Sensitisation on Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Policies for workers, held at the Golden Jubilee Terminal and the Fishing Harbour, Tema, on Thursday.

Mrs Opoku said operations of the GPHA required high level of safety and environmental consciousness, especially at the terminals where heavy duty equipment and other mechanical activities take place.

She explained that the use of alcohol and drugs affects the health of workers, promotes absenteeism and results in low productivity.

Mrs Opoku said cigarettes butts could also trigger fire outbreaks if not properly extinguished and wrongly disposed of at or near combustible sources.

She also noted that alcoholism and drug use caused accidents, and increased insurance and health costs, stressing that disciplinary measures would be taken against any employee of the Authority found culpable of drug use.

Mrs Opoku further urged security personnel at the habour to be vigilant and report any employee that would be found either drunk or using drugs.

She urged all employees of the habour, including National Service Personnel to wear their prescribed dresses both in office and at the terminals in order to avoid workplace accidents.

Chairman of the Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Committee of the GPHA, Dr Vitus Victor Anaab-Bisi, said the Authority was committed to ensuring discipline, health and safety of workers.

The workers were educated on port security, role of stakeholders, protection of port environment, and prevention of pollution, dress code, substance abuse and GPHA’s International Standardisation Organisation certification.

FROM KEN AFEDZI, TEMA

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