Health workers agree to return to work

Accra, June 20, GNA - Members of the Health Workers Group (HWG) who embarked on a strike action about two weeks ago to demand the bridging of salary levels between them and doctors have agreed to the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between their leadership and government over the weekend and have called off their strike action.

The workers, including those in the district and regional hospitals, have therefore agreed to resume work with immediate effect. The health workers came to this agreement after they had been briefed by their leaders at an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Accra on the content of the MOU after which the majority voted in favour to resume work whilst government continued with its measures to address their concerns.


Mr Akueteh Armah, General Secretary, Ghana Bio-Medical Scientists Association, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the members' decision to resume work was in response to the plight of the general public and the call by President John Agyekum Kufuor. He described their response as a clear "demonstration of goodwill".


"We believe that the government will also exercise political will and ensure that it honours its obligation by addressing the concerns of the HWG within the three months timeframe stated in the MOU." Members, however, cautioned that if by the end of agreed timeframe, the concerns were not fully addressed, the general public should not blame the health workers but hold government responsible for the consequences that might erupt.

They commended President Kufuor for his intervention to settle the impasse.


Members of the HWG two weeks ago embarked on a strike action in demand of equity in their salary structure for all health workers. Their strike action came during another industrial action of doctors who were demanding the implementation of a new salary structure and payment of arrears. Doctors have resumed work but work at the hospitals has been going on at a snail's pace because of the absence of other health workers.


The health workers after hearing the package for doctors, withdrew their services until their salaries were reviewed to clear all the discrepancies.