By Zobia Zulfqar 
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has directed the management of Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL) to immediately reverse its decision to suspend the employment contracts of all staff following severe flood damage to the company’s headquarters in Accra.
The directive comes after GDCL issued a circular announcing the temporary suspension of all employment contracts effective July 1, 2026, pending a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the June 29 floods on the facility and its operations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, July 1, the Ministry said it strongly disagreed with the decision and instructed the company’s management to withdraw the directive without delay.
“The Ministry takes a very strong view of the directive and immediately instructs Management to reverse that decision. All GDCL staff are to disregard the directive,” the statement said.
The Ministry emphasised that employees should ignore the suspension notice and assured them that government was committed to protecting their welfare during the ongoing recovery efforts.
The decision follows extensive flooding that struck parts of Accra on June 29, causing significant damage to the Ghana Digital Centres facility and disrupting operations for businesses housed within the technology hub.
According to GDCL management, sections of the complex suffered extensive damage, affecting infrastructure and limiting the organisation’s ability to operate normally.
The company initially argued that the suspension of employment contracts was a temporary measure intended to allow management to assess the extent of the damage and begin restoration work before recalling employees.
However, the Ministry maintained that such a directive was inappropriate, particularly at a time when many workers were themselves dealing with the personal impact of the devastating floods.
The statement expressed solidarity with staff members affected by the disaster and assured them that government would continue to support them throughout the recovery process.
“At a time when staff have been personally affected by the June 29 floods, the Ministry stands with its staff and the staff of all our agencies,” the statement added.
To resolve the matter, the Ministry has summoned the management of Ghana Digital Centres Limited to an emergency meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 2.
The meeting is expected to review the circumstances surrounding the suspension directive, assess the extent of the flood damage and determine the next steps toward restoring operations while safeguarding the interests of employees.
The development comes shortly after the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, visited the Ghana Digital Centres complex on June 30 to inspect the damage caused by the floods.
During the visit, the Minister assessed the impact of the disaster on the facility, technology companies operating within the centre and other businesses affected by the flooding.
Before the Ministry’s intervention, GDCL management defended its decision, insisting that the temporary suspension of employment contracts should not be interpreted as dismissals.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, Christine Adwoa Agyapomaa Ansong, explained that the company had been forced to take the decision because parts of the facility had become unsafe for normal operations.
She said the flood damage had also disrupted the centre’s revenue-generating activities, making it difficult to continue operating under normal conditions until repairs were completed.
According to Ms Ansong, management intended to recall all affected staff once restoration works were finished and the facility was ready to resume full operations.
Despite that assurance, the Ministry concluded that suspending staff contracts was not the appropriate response to the crisis and instructed management to prioritise employee welfare while implementing recovery measures.
The flooding that affected the Ghana Digital Centres forms part of a wider disaster that impacted several communities across Accra following heavy rainfall on June 29.
The floods damaged homes, businesses, public infrastructure and commercial facilities, prompting emergency response efforts by government agencies and disaster management authorities.
Government has since pledged to support affected institutions while accelerating recovery efforts to restore normal economic activity.
The Ministry’s latest directive signals its commitment to protecting public sector workers during emergencies while ensuring that government agencies adopt measures that balance operational recovery with the welfare of employees.