NPP to doctors: 'Consider the poor; call off strike'

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is appealing to all striking health workers and professionals to reconsider their recent action bearing in mind the plight of the poor.

The Party has asked them to return to work while they continue negotiating their conditions of service with the government.

According to the NPP, what the country is witnessing in the health sector is a clear testimony that the economy has been mismanaged to the detriment of the masses.

The party, nonetheless, urged all health workers and professionals to exercise restraint and continue to work “even during this difficult period” since any action contrary would cause mayhem.

At a press conference on recent developments in the health sector Tuesday, the General Secretary of the elephant family, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, said it was regrettable to note that Ghanaians are bearing the brunt of the actions and inactions of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“What we are witnessing today at the labour front are the consequences of bad economic management and massive corruption in our country. Things are really in disarray. As of now, many nurses, pharmacist and other trained health workers who completed their training as far back as 2013 have not been absorbed by the public health sector although many health institutions, especially, those in the countryside are yearning for them.

“The situation where medical personnel are not paid for eleven months, where pharmacists conditions of service are not concluded for four years, where doctors proposals lie on the table for eight months cannot be regarded as behavior from the government that is serious about the resolving the concerns of this all important health sector,” he said.

He said the development is causing preventable deaths to many Ghanaians, especially, those living in deprived communities and rural areas of the country.

According to him, all indications so far points to the fact that the government has proven to be insensitive to the plight of workers and shown bad faith in negotiating with them.

Concerned with the consequences on the action of the striking doctors, Mr. Agyepong charged President John Dramani Mahama to sit up and ensure that sustainable solutions were found to the many problems in the health sector, especially, those that bother on essential services.

The chief scribe commenting further condemned the unprofessional manner in which the government appointees and surrogates are criticizing the striking medical doctors and other health professions.

He urged the health workers and professionals to take solace in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and vote massively for the Party to reclaim power from the NDC, noting “our party, the NPP, has a better record of managing the economy, rewarding productivity and providing a listening ear to workers.”

He said the NPP government under the leadership of Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will guarantee and implement effective policies to address the problems in the health sector.

“Under the leadership of Nana Addo, we will manage the economy to create more jobs, and improve the conditions of service of Ghanaian workers.”