For blowing the lid on the Marwako saga, “my co-workers have all turned against me,” Ms Evelyn Boakye, the Ghanaian kitchen staffer at the Abelenkpe branch of Marwako Fast Foods whose face was dipped into a paste of blended pepper by her Lebanese supervisor, has told Accra FM on Monday, 6 March.

Ms Boakye claims her decision not to sweep the issue under the carpet, as was done by other workers who suffered similar assault at the same restaurant in the past, incurred the wrath of her Ghanaian colleagues, who wanted her to ride on the current incident to extort money from their Lebanese boss.

“I was told by one Ali (also a worker there) that I was not the first person to have experienced this treatment at the place, and that even those handling the chicken also experienced same treatment. He suggested to me that we come together to use this incident to extort money from Chaaban but I said no, I wanted justice. Because I rejected that ploy, my co-workers have all turned against me …” she narrated.

Meanwhile, Evelyn has turned down an apology from Jihad Chaaban who subjected her to the inhumane treatment.

Mr Chaaban, in a letter, apologised to Evelyn, saying: “I wish personally to sincerely apologise to you for the incident on the night of 26 February 2017 at our Abelenkpe place of work.

“True to God, all I sought to do was to point you to something I found wrong. I admit I was angry a bit at the moment and saw you panic and accidentally resulting in the pepper splashing onto your face.

“…I very sincerely regret the incident and apologise to you.”

Mr Chaaban also stated that the money he gave to the victim to pick a car to go to the hospital with on the night of the incident was not a bribe.

“Please don’t feel I have any hatred for you because you got the police to arrest me and I have to face prosecution and disciplinary proceedings at the same time. I also regret that you may have felt the transport money I gave you was intended to stop you from taking any action. I take my suspension in good faith because of what happened, which has not only hurt you but also brought such embarrassment to the company we both gave our best to give it the excellent reputation it enjoys,” he wrote.

The matter is currently being investigated by the police who arrested Mr Chaaban, interrogated him, and released him on bail.

Management of Marwako has also come out to condemn the incident and suspended Mr Chaaban over the matter until the police are done with investigations.

Source: Accra FM

The management of the food chain expressed its regret at the unfortunate incident and hinted of investigating the alleged act and taking subsequent disciplinary sanctions.

A statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alhaji Marwan Mohammed, said Marwako was cooperating with and assisting the police to establish the facts for the purpose of allowing the law to be applied accordingly.

It said Chaaban had been interrogated by the police and was currently on bail, pending further processes, while the company was “providing the best of care for and ensuring the best interest of the victim”.

Assurances

It assured the public that the company would not sacrifice the reputation it had built for itself over the last 12 years in Ghana as an entity that looked out for its employees who were credited for the best services it rendered to its clients.

According to the statement, the victim had reported the incident to the Head of Human Resource at the Labadi Branch of the company, “but this, unfortunately, had not been brought to the attention of management until the police sought to arrest the said supervisor”.

The Human Resource Department is said to have attempted to resolve the issue internally and asked the victim to report to work on Monday, February 27, 2017, but the internal resolution attempt was later curtailed by management.

The statement assured its clients and the public that “Mawarko will not condone mistreatment of its workers and, therefore, condemns in no uncertain terms the alleged assault”.

Assault

A female worker of the Abelenkpe Branch of Mawarko was allegedly maltreated by Chaaban, a Lebanese supervisor, for ostensibly fidgeting with a blender she was using to blend pepper on February 26, 2017.

The young lady, Evelyn Boakye, had her face robbed with blended pepper for about five minutes and was subsequently locked up by Chaaban for hours before she was released to leave the workplace.

The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mrs Afia Tenge, had indicated that the police immediately arrested Chaaban on February 28, 2017 after receiving a complaint from the victim.

Chaaban, she said, had been charged with assault and had since been granted a police enquiry bail pending further investigations.

Identification parade

The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Nana Osabarima Oware Asare Pinkrong III, had since directed the Tesano District Police Command to parade the suspect before the command on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

MP’s comments

Following media reports on the incident, a former Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Private Sector Development and Public\Private Partnerships (PPP), Mr Rashid Pelpuo, called on the Ghana Police Service to thoroughly investigate the case.

Mr Pelpuo, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa Central, condemned incidents in which Ghanaians working in various companies owned by foreigners were maltreated, while no actions were taken.

According to her, measures are being put in place to deal with the matter reiterating that it will not be swept under the carpet as many may envisage.

Read her comment on the matter:

Evelyn Boakye 25, the victim, had her face allegedly rubbed in blended pepper for more than 10 minutes while Jihad Thaabn 26, squeezed her neck and yelled abusive words on her.

The incident which has attracted  wide condemnation, has led to some persons proposing that people stop patronizing food prepared by Marwako, in solidarity of the abused employee who is a Ghanaian.

Many are of the view that the decision to stop patronizing meals prepared by the restaurant will serve as a deterrent to other expatriate companies to learn to respect the rights of their employees in line with the laws of the country.

Meanwhile, Police have confirmed to mynewsgh.com that the suspect has been arrested and his caution statement taken awaiting prosecution.