The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has insisted that their demand for conditions of service from government is legitimate hence they will pursue it to the latter.
The Deputy General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Justice Yankson in an interview with Citi News said they have not done anything wrong making the demands since it is enshrined in the Labour Act.
His comments come after President John Dramani Mahama warned that he will not approve any spending outside the budget for workers.
[contextly_sidebar id=”tCFgKclgPJ8o8Jayg9KhVrdHUUtgPGIZ”]Speaking at the 80th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association in Accra, President Mahama emphasized that he will not authorize the payment of salaries or allowances that has not been captured in the budget.
He explained that such move will collapse the single spine salary structure.
“I will not authorize any expenditure on wages and compensation not provided for in the budget. Fiscal discipline requires that not a single pesewa is spent on remuneration outside what has been budgeted for,” he said adding that “this goes to both article 71 office holders and those on the single spine. It goes for the president as well as the lowest public sector employee. I’m determined to hold the line no matter the political cost.”
Dr. Yankson however insisted that they have exhausted every means possible to get their grievances addressed.
“What have I asked for as a doctor who works with an employer? Give me conditions of service, which forms the basis of the employment contract, which is also backed by the law. So if I ask for what you ought to give me by way of conditions of service, I don’t think I’m wrong asking for conditions of service.”
“In any case there are people in this country who have conditions of service, so what is wrong if a doctor or a group of doctors decide that, please give us conditions of service such that it will fall in line with the very documents called the labour act,” he asked.
“We have submitted our proposals to our employer so let’s leave it like that. Whatever his pleasure is as the president on this matter is his prerogative,” Dr. Yankson added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana