Our strike is not politically motivated - Doctors

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has said it need not be influenced by politicians to go on strike as being speculated in the media.

Reacting to media commentary that their intended strike is politically-motivated, General Secretary of the Association, Dr Frank Serebuor, told XYZ News on Thursday that: “Now people are on radio trying to castigate us and reading political meanings into it, as if we are not wise enough to decide for ourselves”.

He insisted: “Such suggestions belittle our intelligence but that is what they are doing”, warning that they would not be perturbed by such weird allegations.

The doctors threatened a strike on Wednesday March 27, 2013 through a statement signed by the President of the GMA, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei.

They intended declaring the nationwide strike next week after a scheduled executive meeting over their market premium and other welfare issues.

The doctors, in the statement said they are being frustrated by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission as far as addressing their issues are concerned.

The GMA attributed its intended strike to the “delay and diversionary tactics being employed by the Fair Wages and Salary Commission.”

It said: “GMA cannot be attending countless fruitless meetings ad infinitum as it's clear that, Fair Wages and Salary Commission is out to only frustrate the GMA and is not willing to reach any agreement.”

It further added that: “GMA will like to therefore inform the general public that the suspended roadmap which led to the partial withdrawal of services by doctors in the public sector on 11th February, 2013 will unfortunately have to be reactivated very soon pending the National Executive Council of the GMA next week”.

Doctors went on a nationwide strike in February but suspended it after an agreement to fast track the resolution of their concerns by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.