Government has up to 6pm on Wednesday to conclude negotiations with the Ghana Medical Association over their conditions of service or risk the activation of the plans by the doctors to resign en masse.
The General Assembly of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) extended its threat to resign en bloc to July 29 to allow for negotiations with government to proceed in good faith.
[contextly_sidebar id=”CZfsPIN4vtqVU4BZCJAx3JKrlfN4UD5h”]But with less than 12 hours to the expiration of the deadline, the Deputy General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Justice Yankson told Citi News they are still holding government to the deadline, and revealed that they still haven’t signed the dotted lines.
“As we speak we haven’t seen any document yet so our deadline still stands. Nobody can change the deadline that was given by the general assembly. The General Assembly is the highest decision making body so none of us can change anything. They give strict instructions and we are supposed to adhere to it.”
GMA’s Timelines
November 10, 2014: About 2,000 doctors in the country gave government an ultimatum till June 2015 to spell out their conditions of service or face their wrath.
March 30, 2015: The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) threatened to embark on a series of strikes if the problems with the payment of their conversion difference and pension contributions are not resolved in two months.
April 10, 2015: The GMA said it is ready to push government for appropriate conditions of service for Doctors.
May 31, 2015: The GMA threatened another strike action over the same issues.
June 16, 2015: GMA has issued its final warning to withdraw their services in July.
June 17, 2015: The Health Ministry expressed uncertainty about meeting the June 30 deadline to complete negotiations on conditions of service for public sector doctors.
June 29, 2015: The General Assembly of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has extended its threat to resign en bloc to July 29, 2015.
June 30, 2015: Government through the Minister of Employment, Haruna Iddrisu promised to institute conditions of service for doctors as one of the main legacies of President John Mahama.
July 21, 2015: The Ghana Medical Association has served strong notice that its members may be compelled to resign en masse in the coming days if negotiations with government continue to move at a slow pace.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana