The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has urged government to – as a matter of urgency – implement the full agreements on the non-basic salary of its members with the Ministry of Health or risk an “industrial disharmony”.
The Association is suspecting government is deliberately frustrating the professional body’s efforts in fully implementing the August 2018 agreements.
A statement issued at the end of GMA’s 2nd National Executive Council Meeting, held from Friday, March 29 to Sunday, March 31, reminded all and sundry that the implementation of the agreements “was scheduled to start in October 2018”.
“During the implementation process, it became apparent that government had unilaterally varied the terms of the agreement without recourse to the GMA,” the statement jointly signed by President Dr Fran Ankobea and General Secretary Dr Justice Yankson said.
The GMA is reported that have re-engaged government to have the anomalies rectified and implementation restarted from March 2019.
“However, to the dismay of the GMA, government has again failed to abide by the agreed March 2019 implementation.”
This, the Association contends, could destabilize the harmony at work.
“The GMA would like to urge government to, as a matter of urgency, implement fully the details of the agreements reached by both parties on the non-basic salary for its members working with the Ministry of Health and its agencies without further delay to forestall any industrial disharmony.”
The Association also reminded government over the “urgent need” to begin renegotiations on the conditions of service document, which is reportedly expired.
Legalising okada?
GMA also weighed into the discourse on the consideration on the legalization of motorcycles and tricycles.
According to the doctors, accidents caused by these vehicles have seen a marginal increase in the past years and so any decision reached should not only be motivated by politics and economy but also health.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana