A damning petition has been submitted to the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), exposing what is described as a “deliberate, organized, and prolonged act of corporate lawlessness” by Keda Ghana Ceramics Company Limited, a major player in Ghana’s ceramics industry under the One- District -One- Factory (1D1F) initiative by immediate past New Patriotic Party administration.
The petition, authored by Dr. David Yevugah, a former employee of the company and self-described stakeholder, accuses Keda Ghana Ceramics of systematically evading its statutory obligations under Ghana’s National Pensions Act and Income Tax Act between 2016 and 2023.
According to Dr. Yevugah, the company’s leadership—particularly Managing Director Mr. Lorry Lei and a team of Chinese managers—allegedly orchestrated a scheme that denied over 4,000 Ghanaian workers their rightful pension contributions and deprived the state of millions of cedis in taxes. Key Allegations:
SSNIT Evasion: The company allegedly failed to remit the mandatory 13.5% pension contributions for its employees, a violation of Act 766.
Income Tax Fraud: Keda Ghana is accused of failing to deduct and remit income taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), an act described as criminal tax evasion.
Employment Manipulation: Workers were allegedly misclassified as “casual staff” for extended periods—often beyond six months—to avoid triggering statutory obligations, in clear contravention of labour laws.
Mass Exploitation: Over 4,000 workers, particularly in the Engineering and Electrical (E&E) departments, were subjected to these exploitative practices, many of whom left the company with no contributions paid into their pension accounts.
Dr. Yevugah stressed that these were not isolated incidents but a “pattern of abuse” rooted in management strategy.
He noted that such behaviour would never be tolerated in the company’s home country and questioned Ghana’s regulatory oversight.
Despite the alleged violations, Keda Ghana Ceramics reportedly benefited from substantial government support, including a tax exemption of US$13.5 million under the 1D1F programme.
The petition questions the level of due diligence conducted before granting such incentives, warning that rewarding non-compliant companies undermines public trust.
The petition also raises red flags about Keda’s ties to the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—the private sector arm of the World Bank.
Keda is affiliated with Tilemaster Investment Ltd., which has reportedly received financial support from the IFC, including a proposed €200 million debt facility.
Dr. Yevugah argues that the company’s actions violate the IFC’s Performance Standard 2 on labour and working conditions.
The petition calls for:
A full forensic audit of the company’s employment and payroll systems from 2016 to 2023.
Legal action against Keda and its leadership for non-compliance and fraud.
Recovery of unpaid SSNIT and tax contributions with applicable penalties.
Inter-agency collaboration between SSNIT, GRA, EOCO, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
IFC notification to reassess its partnership with the company.
Dr. Yevugah states that he possesses substantial evidence to support his claims and is ready to cooperate with authorities to ensure justice is served.
The petition has sparked growing calls for investigations into the company’s operations and broader scrutiny of foreign companies operating under Ghana’s flagship industrialisation programmes.
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