Organised Labour is mounting pressure on government to sack President John Mahama’s aide, Stan Dogbe, if indeed he is found to have leaked confidential information in the conditions of service document presented by the striking doctors to government.
The General Secretary of the Trades Unions Congress (TUC), Kofi Asamoah has called for appropriate sanctions to be meted out to the group or individual who leaked the documents.
The Ghana Medical Association is accusing government of exercising bad faith by releasing information about the negotiations through it’s presidential aide Stan Dogbe.
[contextly_sidebar id=”MCYrjIw8oVwExlH1U9GFlTFkNmkIWRvQ”]In an Interview on Eyewitness News after the release of a press statement early on, Mr. Asamoah condemned the actions saying it as a blatant breach of international labour practices.
“We believe in free speech but if you have checked from the labour laws negotiating in good faith goes along to tell both parties as to what exactly to do. For negotiations to be ongoing and in the process you leak the person’s proposal, it is a big thing that can undermine all future negotiations and so even if it was done on behalf of government, it is wrong and whoever did it must be punished.” he stated.
When asked by Eyewitness News host, Richard Sky if he was specifically calling for the dismissal of Stan Dogbe the Presidential aide in question, Mr. Asamoah said: “We do not know about who did it but if he is the one who did it I think that constitutes unfair labour practice and unfair labour practice is a severe offence in labour relations in the country and beyond and If you acted wrongly in a situation that can undermine the social partnership (between government and organised labour). It is a grave offence and we are asking that whoever did that must be punished.”
Meanwhile the Minister for Employment and Labour Haruna Iddrisu has rejected claims that government leaked a conditions of service document which was tabled before them by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
Responding to Stan Dogbe’s post on Facebook, the Minister said: ““It’s not an official government position; we don’t relate to someone’s wall and declare that as a representative of the position of government. The doctors have reported that strongly to me expressing their disappointment and disquiet on that matter. I have accordingly conveyed my position them and what is important for me is to deal with the substance of the issues before us.”
The Ghana Medical Association has been on strike for the past eight days.
The display of their demands from government in the public domain including a request for hundred gallons of fuel every month has muddied the waters and has been described severally by players on the labour front as an act in bad faith.
By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana