Health workers remind government of MOU

Accra, Sept. 5, GNA - The Greater Accra Branch of the Health Workers Group (HWG) on Tuesday reminded government of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed to address their salary structure, which will expire on September 30.

They said they were concerned that the Independent Appellate Body was inaugurated only on August 4 and expressed doubts whether the time-frame of four months or more given it to work could be met. They also doubted if government would be able to meet its pledges at the agreed time.

Mr Emmanuel Lloyd Baffoe, an executive member of the Group, briefing the media in Accra, said if by September 30, as agreed by the parties, grievances by the HWG were not resolved, government and not HWG should be blamed for the consequences.

He noted that some members had still not received their salaries for the past four months and described that as a "deliberate punishment and not an error". He asked for its rectification and cautioned that this "may affect quality of care in our various health institutions". The Group also called for the immediate removal of the top health sector management officers and lead consultant of Ceder Care Trust of UK whose action, according to them, had led to the strike action that resulted in loss of lives.

Mrs. Mary Sackeyfio, President of the Greater Accra Branch of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association, expressed concern about members who had not been paid since June.

"There are some who are the breadwinners, single parents and have children to take care of. This is so sad and pathetic and government should be sensitive to this."

Members of HWG embarked on two-week strike action last May to demand equity in the salary structure after government had increased the salaries of doctors.

The leadership of HWG and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Health Sector Reform on June 16 signed an MOU and agreed on a number of issues, which included the setting up an independent Appellate Body to review the pay structures of the health sector.

They also agreed that the concept of premiums be reviewed to bring equity in the pay structure and negotiate on Collective Bargaining Agreement.