By: Elijah Easter Kaykay
(Grand Bassa County)
A storm of discontent is brewing in Grand Bassa County as former employees of Afcons Construction Company voice sharp opposition to a new re-registration initiative launched by local authorities.
The move, intended to determine eligibility for future compensation and support, has been met with frustration and suspicion by many of the affected workers.
At the heart of the controversy are glaring discrepancies within the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) records. Many ex-workers allege that their names were never properly documented in the system, thereby denying them the benefits they believe they rightfully earned after years of dedicated service on key infrastructure projects.
In a recent meeting with Grand Bassa Superintendent Karyou Johnson, authorities emphasized that re-registration is mandatory for all former Afcons workers seeking inclusion in upcoming benefits programs. However, workers argue the process is flawed and unjust.
โWe spent years working tirelessly on these projects, helping to build our communities. Now, weโre told to start over as if our efforts never mattered,โ said Acquoilla Barkon, one of the affected former employees. โThatโs very discouraging.โ
Many see the re-registration effort not as a fix, but as a further erasure of their labor and identity within the system.
Adding to their frustrations is a growing fear that the re-registration might be a calculated attempt to wipe out evidence of their service altogether. With no clear explanation for how or why their names were omitted from NASSCORP records, trust in the process is eroding.
โThese are not just names on a list,โ said another former worker. โThese are years of sweat and sacrifice that are being ignored.โ
In response to the unfolding situation, former Afcons employees are planning strategic meetings to demand clarity, accountability, and transparency from both NASSCORP and local officials. They remain steadfast in their commitment to ensure their contributions are recognizedโand that the benefits due to them are not lost in bureaucratic oversight.
As tensions rise, the affected workers are calling on civil society organizations and media to help amplify their voices in what they describe as a fight for fairness and dignity.
