Offer us improved service package or we strike – GMA Dep. Sec Gen

The Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association has served notice that over 2000 public sector doctors will lay down their tools if government fails to come to a consensus on a new and sustainable condition of service package.

According to Dr. Justice Yankson, although the pre-and-independence years saw a defined condition of service package acceptable to all parties, the last decade has seen bad faith shown by successive governments who either use a reshuffled or dismissed minister as an excuse to drag on negotiations.

He said as essential staff, decent remuneration in addition to pecks must be clearly spelt out in a new service package to eliminate ambiguities and show of bad faith stressing that doctors face imminent risk in the discharge of their duties be they infections, physical attacks or personal breakdowns when often doctors are treated without special considerations.

Dr. Yankson further added that it smacked of malicious intent when an employer recruits without laying out the scope of engagement.

The Mahama government in particular has endured numerous strike actions from different unions this year. It remains to be seen what response the health, finance and interior ministries will give in the face of this new threat.