The staff of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in the Central Region, have carried out their threat to lay down their tools, in an attempt to compel the government to remove the facility’s Medical Director, Dr. Eugene Dordoye from his post.
The staff thus commenced a sit-down strike today [Thursday].
[contextly_sidebar id=”K096cgCTM9Ntm3DrXCE7gv2DqNHLWx0w”]The nurses had earlier given the government a three-day ultimatum and threatened to declare a strike, if the government fails to heed their calls.
They are accusing the Medical Director of maladministration and showing gross disrespect to subordinates.
Before the agitation against Dr. Dordoye, the hospital in August threatened to discharge over 100 patients, due to the lack of funds to run the facility.
Speaking to Citi News, the Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Psychiatric Nurses’ Group, Benjamin Anewotey, said several discussions with officials of the Health Ministry have proven futile hence the decision to declare a strike.
He said the action today was because the nurses have not heard from the Minister of Health “so we are laying down our tools from now till we hear something from whether the minister or through management.”
This strike is set to lead to the closure of the Out Patient Department [OPD] and the early discharge of patients.
“Those in the wards are being discharged prematurely due to our strike… those who will be coming to the OPD, none of them will be attended to by nurses. Every nurse is laying down their tools,” Mr. Anewotey said.
It is not only nursing staff that is embarking on the sit-down strike, but “the entire hospital staff,” he added.
Other hospitals to join?
The Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital has over 400 staff in all, and according to Mr. Anewotey, they are set to be supported by other psychiatric hospitals.
“We have been assured that all the psychiatric hospitals in Ghana and our colleagues in the community will be joining us in this fight,” he disclosed.
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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana