Australian High Commission accused of human rights abuse and unjust treatment
- Australian High Commission accused of human rights abuse and unjust treatment
- The Commission failed to honour re-engagement agreements and ended up terminating the employment of the employee
The Australian High Commission has been accused of human rights abuse by Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, I am a Ghanaian journalist, author, Founder of Discovery Teen Magazine, and gender advocate.
In a press release copied to Ghana Education News, the journalist accused the Australian High Commission in Ghana of misrepresentation, and unfair and unjust treatment.
Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, was employed by as Public Affairs and Event Manager by the Australia High Commission until the unfortunate purported human rights abuse occurred.
According to the press release, her appointment was terminated as a result of Australian High Commission’s refusal to honour an agreement to continue her employment with the commission at the agreed level to reflect her experience and expertise and promotion to Level 5 to match her work and experience.
Upon completing her previous contract, the Commission failed to get a replacement for her and therefore called her to return to her post, which she refused to take up from the onset. “They had been unable to recruit a replacement, despite advertising and conducting interviews.” The statement said.
The statement further that the Australian High Commission failed to officially carry out a formal confirmation of the new employment.
Out of know where, she was shown the exit without granting the employee the basic courtesies “On my last day, an Australian member of staff at the Australian High Commission hounded me out of the building, treating me with disrespect, a lack of humanity, and a lack of professionalism” The statement revealed.
READ: 7-year-old girl assaulted & tortured rescued: Human Rights Reporters Ghana
The statement has called on the Commission to respect the rights of the employee and do what is necessary as their conduct and actions
- Fall foul of Ghana’s labour laws
- Fall foul of Australia High Commission’s standard of treating employees with respect, courtesy, and professionally.
- Unfair, unjust, and a misrepresentation
Mercy Catherine Adjabeng has through the press statement called on the Australia High Commission to apologize for the Human rights Abuse, misrepresentation, and unfair and unjust treatment meted out to her.
That the Australia High Commission should obey its own employment regulations and the Ghana Labour law and pay the compensation due her at the level agreed for during her re-engagement processes.
The victim intends to use media advocacy to stand up, speak up and tell my story, petition relevant institutions, take Legal actions against the Australia High Commission and use all open legitimate means for redress.
READ:
Below is the full press statement by Mercy Catherine Adjabeng
Accra- 16 August, 2022
For Immediate Release
PRESS STATEMENT
Human rights Abuse by the Australian High Commission: misrepresentation, unfair and unjust treatment.
My name is Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, I am a Ghanaian journalist, author, Founder of Discovery Teen Magazine, gender advocate and a public relations expert who was recently employed as Public Affairs and Event Manager by the Australia High Commission. This statement is an explanation of events that led to the termination of my appointment with the Australian High Commission, and my call to action as a result of those events.
My employment as the Public Affairs and Event Manager at the Australian High Commission was terminated on Monday 8th August. This was as a result of the Australian High Commission’s refusal to honor an agreement to continue my employment at the agreed level reflecting my experience and expertise, expected to be above Level 5.
They had removed me from that level, demoting me to a Level 4. This demotion came together with treatment that fails the standards set by the Australian High Commission of respect, transparency and community.
For additional clarity and context, I was previously employed by the Australia High Commission under former High Commissioners Andrew Barnes and Gregory Andrews until 30th September 2021, when I resigned.
The High Commission approached me and requested I return to my position, as they had been unable to recruit a replacement, despite advertising and conducting interviews. My initial response was no.
They continued to request my return due to my knowledge, skillset and expertise. I agreed, took on some additional roles and maintained that these reflect and I was paid for it. That was going to be above my previous level that I resigned (Level 5), so it would be above Level 5.
All the while I worked, I continued to request formal confirmation of my new Level status. Despite affirmations that this would be honored, it was not. There were consistent email requests, many reassurances, but no action was taken. When I finally received formal confirmation of my employment, I had been demoted. At the time of the demotion, I had been working as the Public Affairs and Events manager responsible among other things including the following:
- managing all Mission events- Public Diplomacy, Australia Alumni events as well Australian National days and recognized national events like ANZAC, Australia Day and social events.
- supporting management by focusing on engagement with interlocutors, programs, policy ideas and engagements to push the Public Diplomacy mandate of the Mission.
- representing the High Commission at meetings
- supervising another staff who reports to me
- promoting the interest and reputation of Australia in West Africa and in the 8 countries of accreditation namely, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Togo
- as the Mission’s Gender focal person, I represented the High Commission on the UN Gender Equality Sector Working Group made up of other Diplomatic Missions, Multinational Organizations and International NGO’s
- I also managed the Mission’s social media (Facebook and Twitter) and website.
On my last day, an Australian member of staff at the Australian High Commission hounded me out of the building, treating me with disrespect, a lack of humanity, and a lack of professionalism.
The Australia High Commission’s actions:-
- Fall foul of Ghana’s labour laws
- Fall foul of Australia High Commission’s standard of treating employees with respect, courtesy and in a professional manner.
- Unfair, unjust and a misrepresentation
As a result of their actions, I am pursuing the following recourse:-
-Using media advocacy to standup, speak up and tell my story
-Petitioning relevant institutions
– Taking Legal action
– Any other legitimate means for redress
I am shocked and appalled by the Australian High Commission’s treatment of a Ghanaian employee, who had served the Commission with commitment, diligence and enthusiasm. I am appalled at the Commission’s disregard for their own commitment to respect and culture given the length of their relationship to Ghana and Ghanaians.
CALL TO ACTION
In sharing these details, I request the following action from the Australia High Commission.
- An apology
- Receipt of compensation at the level agreed for my re-engagement
The Australia High Commission prides itself on being among the early missions in sub Saharan Africa, it prides itself on being one of the first countries to recognize Ghana’s independence in 1957. In its treatment of a daughter of Ghana, and a former employee, the Australia High Commission, has fallen foul of its own high standards, its commitment to professionalism, humanity and cultural respect. This is unacceptable. This can be remedied by swift, clear action, and I look forward to such action.
#JusticeforMercy #AustraliaHighCommissionWhy
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For interviews contact:-
Mercy C. Adjabeng
Cell: +233- 544341782
Email: mcadjabeng@gmail.com