A worker of GCB Bank, Agnes Asampana has allegedly committed suicide over the ongoing dismissals at the Bank.
The 40-year-old Ms Asampana hanged herself to death on Friday, 5th July, 2019, and her remains had already been deposited at the Suhum Government Hospital Morgue.
Ms Asampana worked at the Nsawam branch of GCB Bank.
Ms Asampana, Starr News gathered did not show any sign of worry or depression to her co-tenants when she returned from work on Friday, 5th July—the day she took her life.
The discovery
The lifeless body of Ms Asampana was discovered hanging on a nylon rope tied around her neck against a ceiling fan in her bedroom.
This was after her brother, Bajerisong Lazarus suspected something was amiss after several unanswered calls to her.
He then curiously went to her house at Ayekokye, a suburb of Suhum and after several unanswered knocks at her door, broke into the room with the help of some tenants only to find his sister’s virtually naked body hanging on a nylon rope tied around her neck against a ceiling fan having stood on two plastic chairs.
Police launch investigation
The development was reported to the Suhum Police upon which detectives were dispatched to the crime scene. After taking inventories no marks of foul play was observed on the body after an examination.
The body was conveyed to the Suhum Government Hospital Morgue.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, said an investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of her action.
However, Starr News has gathered from sources that the deceased has allegedly been given a dismissal letter over her certificate which inadvertently earned her job at GCB Bank.
The dismissals
Tension has been brewing at GCB Bank for a while now as over 140 clerical staff are likely to lose their jobs over SSSCE/WASSCE results.
The staff, who were hired in 2016/17 after writing and passing aptitude test at Zenith College and others online, have their fate hanging in the balance as management is now overlooking their tertiary qualification and using lower qualification such as SSSCE as a basis to sack them.
Some of these staff Starrfm.com.gh learnt were temporary staff who worked between five to eight years prior to being absolved into the bank in 2016/2017.
Per a memo sighted by Starrfm.com.gh from the Deputy Managing Director in charge of operation, Samuel Amankwah, clerical staff who failed to obtain at least Credit (Grade C) in English and Mathematics would have their contracts terminated.
A report from the Human Resources Department of GCB Bank dated May 13, 2019, said that out of the 434 clerical staff hired in 2016/17, 277 obtained ‘Credit’ in English and Maths, 141 failed to meet the benchmark but had a pass (Grade D), five failed to submit their certificates while 10 submitted mature Entrance exam results.
The development has heightened tension and causing extreme anxiety at GCB Bank and affecting morale, a senior staff told Staffm.com.gh.
“Some of the affected staff are pregnant women and single mothers, how do we take care of our families if they go ahead to terminate our contracts,” an affected staff said.
“It’s so strange that prior to being employed, we were told the minimum entry requirement was HND and First Degree but we are now being sacked over pre-tertiary certificates. Isn’t it strange?
“This is sad and unfair and we will sue the bank if they attempt to terminate our appointment, this is inhumane, this is unfair this is bad faith and we call on the president and the minister of finance to intervene”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
