By Alie Turay
20-year-old Ibrahim Kanu dreamt of being a lawyer. Last school year (2012-2013) Ibrahim dropped out of school, as he says, an ageing father could no longer afford the rent nor continue to pay his school fees. The 20 year old decided to find work, hoping that one day, he would be able to save enough to further his education.
Luckily for him, he got a casual job at the Red Sea Fishing Company at No. 1aDamba Road, Murray Town in October 2012. His job was to separate and package the fish before storing it in the cold (freezing) room.
Due to his diligence he got offered a full time job in November 2012,improving his status from a casual worker to a full time employee. He was then moved from the separation and packaging section to the icebreaker, which crushes the hardened ice into cubes, which are then taken to the bigger fishing vessels out at sea to help preserve the catch of fish.
On the 27th December 2012, Ibrahim resumed work after the Christmas break, with the new task as operator of the Icebreaker machine. Ibrahim said he told his Chinese boss Mr Li that he did not have enough training to operate the ice breaker and that some one must teach him.
He recalled that the manager Mr, Li did not respond to his request but orderedhim to work with the machine, saying that with time he will becomefamiliar with operating the machine.
After working for several hours the entire floor had become wet with melting ice. Ibrahim said moving around, he slipped and lost his balance. Disaster struck. While falling down close to the machine and his head now exposed to the turning blade which crushes the ice, Ibrahim said he sent out his left arm to break his fall and prevent his head from going close to the turning blade where it would have been instant death for him. With no one to stop the machine and no mechanism for an automatic stop the fastly turning blade practically swallowed his hand, crushing it like it does for the hardened ice. Shouting loudly from the pain, his brother Hassan who was in the cold room heard the shouts of agony and rushed into the room turning off the machine and helping him (Ibrahim) out. He was quickly rushed to the emergency hospital at Goderich, where he was treated for “severe degloving … of the left upper limb.” This infact meant in layman’s terms that his left hand was amputated above the elbow.
On 20thJuly 2013 a complication developed on the amputated section of his left Limb and he had to undergo another surgery at the Emergency Hospital, but this time it was for the “rotational flap of the axilla.”
A left-hander and having his left arm amputated has left Ibrahim in a quandary, mourning not only for his lost arm, but also for the loss of his dream to become a lawyer.
Ibrahim claims that while at Emergency Hospital none of the Red Sea Fishing Company’s senior staff showed up at the hospital to offer condolences nor provide any means of transportation. “The accident I suffered at Red Sea Fishing Company has disfigured me and has caused me considerable emotional stress and put a halt to my academic pursuits since I am a left hander and now do not have a hand to write, eat or even do any domestic work to help myself.”
After leaving hospital Ibrahim said he approached the Red Sea Fishing Company to discuss compensation. He said he was told there was no compensation per se but that he would be given four million Leones as help.
He said “I cried.”
An Insurance broker who has asked not to be named, said that Ibrahim would have claimed his medical bills or if he was on life insurance the insurance company would have calculated his premium which would have ensured that he is compensated for the rest of his life.
Red Sea Fishing Country Manager Mr Li confirmed that the incident actually happened, saying it was close to being fatal, and it was not reported to the Police. Li said he was happy Ibrahim is still alive. He disclosed that the Company (Red Sea Fishing) had not agreed any compensation yet and that they are waiting for the arrival of their direct foreman in Sierra Leone, Mr Samba Kamara who was currently in The Gambia.
Solicitors for the 20 year old Ibrahim Kanu have written to the Fishing Company claiming a $300, 000 compensation package.
Other workers at the Fishing Company say the working conditions are very bad with no sanitary facility, no drinking water, and no medical assistance. They are not sure whether their office pays their income tax or NASSIT.
Desmond Benya PRO NASSIT says companies are now given one month to pay their staff contributions otherwise they will face the full penalty of the law.
Meanwhile as his lawyers wait for a response from Red Sea Fishing the single arm amputee Ibrahim Kanu continues to suffer in silence and ponder on his future.