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Doctors Doctoring Money: Dirges of Ghanaian Patient

Sun, 9 Oct 2011 Source: Mensema, Akadu N.

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*By Akadu Ntiriwa Mensema, Ph. D.

“The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is embarking on a nationwide strike by close of

day October 7, if their demands are not met. The GMA resolved to lay down their

tools after an emergency national executive council meeting on Thursday… The GMA is

complaining about distortions in the grading structures of the Single Spine Pay

Structure, issues of unscientific determination of Market Premium and inducement by

the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission” (Ghanaweb, September 7, 2011)

Doctors of life

Doctoring money

Doctoring death

Everyday strike

To strike money

Yesterday strike

Today strike

Morning strike

Afternoon strike

Evening strike

Tenets on strike

Principles on strike

Codes on strike

Conscience on strike

Ethics on strike

Doctors on strike

To strike money

Ghanaian doctors

Doctoring money

Like all educated elites

Ah! Killers of the dream

Their elitist entitlements

Like Parliamentarians

Like Ministers

Like Pastors

Like Police

Like Customs

Elitist armed-robbers

Doctors on strike

Oh! Doctors

Strike for us all

For a better society

For poor patients

For sick street kids

For sick civil servants

For sick farmers

For sick fisher-folks

For “abortion” girls

Ghanaian doctors

Doctors on strike

Strike for us all

For poor patients

Patients on floors

That sleep on floors

In Korle Bu

In Ridge

In Tetteh Quarshie

In Okomfo Anokye

In Effia Nkwanta

Doctors on strike

Strike for us all

Strike for facilities

Strike for equipment

Strike for work ethics

Strike for punctuality

Strike for morality

Strike against hospital theft

Strike against malpractices

Strike against congestion

Strike against high fees

Ghanaian Doctors

Soar to the skies

Like the eagle

Ah! Power, grace

Respect, Wealth

Ghanaian doctors

In private practice

On government payrolls

In part-time jobs

They have it all

Maid-servants

Chauffeurs, cooks

Garden boys

Laundry boys

State bungalows

Free cars

Ghanaian doctors

Education of doctors

Educated by all

Educated for all

Paid for by farmers

By cocoa farmers

Noble farmers’ sweat

In the postcolony

Cocoa farmers are stoic

Farmers don’t go on strike

Doctors of life

Everyday strike

Tenets on strike

Principles on strike

Codes on strike

Conscience on strike

Ethics on strike

Norms on strike

Doctoring money

Doctoring death

Doctors on strike

To strike money

*Akadu N. Mensema, Ph. D., is a nationalist Denkyira beauty. She is a trained oral

historian cum sociologist and Professor in the USA. She lives in Pennsylvania with

her great mentor and teaches Africa-area studies at a college in Maryland. In her

pastime, she writes what critics have called “populist hyperbolic, satirical”

poetry. She can be reached at akadumensema@yahoo.com

Columnist: Mensema, Akadu N.