Doctors have warned government to meet their demands or face strike action on August 6, 2018
General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Justice Yankson has called on the National Peace Council, Civil society groups, traditional leaders and the media to impress upon government to address the concerns raised by doctors before they embark on their strike action.
In an interview with Kwame Tutu on their planned industrial action, the medical doctor said, they wouldn’t want Ghanaians to blame doctors when they take such an action hence the need for Ghanaians to force authorities to address their challenges.
‘’This is the time excuse me to say leaders in this country i.e traditional leaders, the clergy, peace council, think tanks, NGOs and the media to also make your appeal to government and ask them to do what is right for the employees who are the doctors.
Such that; you will not turn around and blame us. This is the time we want your voices heard…Tell government to address our concerns,’’ he added. Doctors in the public sector are expected to withdraw their outpatient services until August 19 and will follow up with an industrial action and withdrawal of all emergency cases from 20 August until 27 August when they declare a full-blown strike if their demands are still not met.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) reached the decision at its 4th National Executive Council meeting held at Jirapa in the Upper West Region from 27 – 28 July 2018. The GMA contends that the issue of doctors having suffered reduced pensions following their migration onto the single spine pay policy; and non-payment of conversion differences, is still outstanding since December 2011, in spite of the NLC’s compulsory arbitration award which binds both parties and subsequent directive from the NLC to government to correct same.’’
The GMA also accused government of not fully implementing their condition of service document signed in October 2015.
