Former Director General of the Ghana Health Service Professor Agyemang Badu Akosa has equated the current strike by Doctors to “kidnapping”.
The former Presidential Aspirant told XYZ Breakfast that he felt “numb” and “sad”, anytime the Ghana Medical Association resorted to strikes as a bargaining chip to get its demands addressed, adding: “It’s almost like kidnapping the ordinary Ghanaian”.
The pathologist-turned-Politician said the Doctors must not use their strike to punish the ordinary Ghanaian who is blameless as far as their current plight is concerned.
“…You only take actions that will hit those whose actions have put you in that position”, Prof Akosa fumed.
He said instead of a blanket strike by the Doctors, “they can work to rule” to make a point rather than take actions that put the lives of ordinary Ghanaians in peril.
“I never understand that”, Prof Akosa said, adding: “A strike action morning, noon and night; No I don’t accept that at all and under no circumstances”.
The Doctors are clamouring for their delayed market premium and other allowances which they claim have delayed since last year.
President of the GMA, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei has already warned of worst times ahead if the Government failed to quickly address the concerns of the Doctors.
He said the government must conform to the time line set by the National Labour Commission for an amicable solution.
The Association’s General Secretary, Dr Frank Serebour had also in a letter warned that all public sector Doctors will from Monday February 18 withdraw indefinitely, all their services including emergency care and in-patient care.
Dr. Serebour had also recommended the establishment of a committee to discuss the Doctors’ concerns before the strike worsens.
The current strike is restricted to only out-patient services.
