Full Details: Why medical doctors called off strike

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called off its three week old strike. The decision to call off the strike was taken after an executive council meeting by the leaders of the Ghana Medical Association held Friday.

The doctors withdrew their services on July 30, 2015 in protest over the absence of a codified conditions of service.

They were demanding a signed document detailing a number of entitlements to be given to them as part of their conditions of service.

Below is the full statement issued by the GMA:

PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING, HELD IN ACCRA ON AUGUST 21, 2015.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) having met and extensively deliberated on the ongoing industrial action by the Members of the GMA and having discussed all developments including the following;

1. Dedication of GMA Members 

The determination and dedication of the members of the GMA to fight for a negotiated and signed Conditions of Service document for doctors in Ministry of Health (MOH) and its agencies cannot be over emphasized. All doctors in the public sector have indeed proven that we have the tenacity and the capacity to fight for our future and shall continue to work together to achieve our goals. The National Executive Council of the GMA would like to salute our gallant doctors. It is clear to everybody that the fight has just started and our determination to get a negotiated and signed Conditions of Service document shall never be abandoned until same is achieved.

2. Appeals

The National Executive Council of the GMA in its deliberations took into consideration the appeals by the ordinary Ghanaians, the wise counsel of certain eminent individuals and some credible organizations.

The intervention of former Heads of State, Otumfuo Osei Tutu Il (Asantehene), Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin (Okyehene), the Christian Council, Catholic Bishops Conference, Ghana Pentecostal Council, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the National House of Chiefs, the Peace Council, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Ghana Health. Service Council, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, and sections of the media. It is the hope of the GMA that, all these people who have intervened will not relent on their effort to ensure that doctors in this country get their Conditions of Service to forestall future occurrence of this industrial unrest.

3. Insults by Government Communicators

The GMA at this moment forgives all these individuals who out of ignorance and other motivations took the path of insults in their attempt to resolve this industrial unrest by doctors to demand a legitimate right. It is the hope of the GMA that, these people will take a cue from this protracted industrial dispute and realize that, insults including threats of armed robbery attacks do very little to help matters when it comes to labour disputes.

4. National Labour Commission (NLC) Directive

The NLC in time past has woefully failed to enforce its rulings in favour of the GMA against government. It is our hope that the NLC would leave up to expectation this time around.

5. Government’s Ultimatums, Intimidations and Threats Threats by governments and its agencies rather increased the resolve of the GMA. 

It is the position of the GMA that, the government has taken an entrenched position throughout the process of negotiations. The government instead of adopting a problem solving approach rather chose to go on the tangent of threats and intimidations. We would like to indicate that, these threats, intimidations and ultimatums do not solve any problems in the industrial front.

GMA Letter

6. Opinion of So-Called Labour Consultants

The GMA finds it very unfortunate that some individuals who call themselves labour consultants chose the path of emotions in expressing their opinion in this matter. It was the hope of the GMA that some of these people could have been more professional in their work instead of choosing to only see one side of the coin and in all their communications clearly showed bias towards the GMA. Indeed, some of these so-called labour consultants have proven to all and sundry that they are more of government communicators and propagandists than professionals.

In as much as NEC is aware that the general membership would like to pursue this matter to its logical conclusion, the NEC of the GMA decides as follows:

a. That the ongoing withdrawal of out-patient and emergency services by members of the GMA is suspended. b. That the suspension takes effect from Monday 24th of August, 2015.

c. That all members of the GMA should fully restore their services effective 8.00am on the said date.

d. That the Negotiation Committee of the GMA should continue to negotiate on behalf of the members of the GMA with government such that the conclusions of negotiations would be fed into the 2016 budget for implementation of same.

e. That all members should wait for further information from leadership as and when it becomes necessary.

Signed by  President of GMA, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei; and General Secretary, Dr Frank Serebour.