Mövenpick Hotel Ghana Staff on Strike over Racist Treatment by Management

The staff of the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, on Wednesday afternoon, laid down their tools in a protest against what they described as racist treatment meted out to them by the management of the hotel. According to them, unfair treatment has persisted since 2011.

The staff, numbering about 100, pitched camp at the reception of the hotel amidst drumming and singing of war songs.

They insisted they will not return to their post until the General Manager of the hotel, Michael Rathgeb – who they accused of overseeing the racist treatment was dismissed.

Some guests at the hotel who were abandoned with no staff to assist joined the media to witness the demonstration.

Some staff who spoke to Graphic Online alleged that Ghanaian workers were treated harshly and dismissed by the hotel when they committed misdemeanors such as “stealing pens” while the expatriate staff was let off the hook when they stole from guests.

They also alleged that a female expatriate staff who allegedly stole gold bars from a guest remains an employee of the hotel even after she was arrested by the police.

The Movenpick General Manager, Mr Rathgeb who was standing at the entrance of the hotel, declined to comment when some media men approached him.

Three uniformed police officers later arrived at the scene and engaged in discussions with the demonstrating workers at the lobby of the hotel.