Striking doctors want to blackmail government - Pratt

The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. says the striking medical doctors are on a mission to blackmail the government.

Touching on the strike threats by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Kwesi Pratt lambasted the doctors for their shockingly inconsiderate behaviour towards the Ghanaian populace.

According to him, the strike action embarked upon by the doctors would invariably affect the underprivileged in society, hence the need for them to reconsider their decision.

He explained that the government in consultation with the doctors and the various stakeholders in the labour front, issued a deadline to them to address their demands.

The deadline is to fall on Friday, 26th April, 2013.

He therefore wondered why the doctors are in a haste to intensify their strike action, days before the deadline they together with government have agreed on.

“I don’t know why the doctors could not wait for four days and have decided to embark upon this kind of action which will have very dire consequences, especially for the poor.”

He found it unfortunate that the doctors would flout their agreement with government regarding the payment of their 2012 market premium and rectifications in their conversion difference.

“Initially, many of us were sympathetic to the cause of the doctors but they are making it very impossible for us to continue to show sympathy. Clearly, they are engaged in a blackmail and I find it most most unfortunate. Their actions will lead to the death of innocent citizens.”

“The rush to deepen the strike. The rush to punish the people of Ghana; the innocent people of Ghana, I think it’s clearly unacceptable.” he stressed.

He called on all the parties involved in the Single Spine Pay Policy dispute to respect the agreement they have made with the government.