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Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has said the striking Medical doctors should with immediate effect call off the partial strike action and attend to patients.

According to a statement released by the Labour Minister, the partial strike is illegal.

"This amounts to coercion and an attempt to compel Government to negotiate under duress," he statement said.

Read full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

Government wishes to restate its commitment to the creation of a conducive working environment for all public sector workers. In this regard, Government has lately been in discussion with the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) on conditions of service for medical officers.

It should be noted that the demands contained in the proposed conditions of service have never existed in the past. Government wishes to note that already the Public Service Joint Negotiating Committee (PSJNC) is involved in a universal discussion of Category 2 & 3 allowances.

Any negotiations of such allowances must therefore be under the ambit and in line with the work of the PSJNC. Further it is important for Government to conduct a financial analysis of the impact of any such conditions of service on Government expenditure in order not to adversely affect the annual budget approved by Parliament.

Also, as a result of the need to maintain equity and fairness in public sector remuneration, especially in order not to jeopardize the recently implemented Single Spine Pay Policy, it has become necessary for Government to seek the advice of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission on the demands put forward by the doctors.

Government is of the view that while these processes are on-going, it is unfair and against the rules of labour practice for the GMA to declare a partial strike by withdrawing all outpatient services. This amounts to coercion and an attempt to compel Government to negotiate under duress.

The current withdrawal of services is illegal and Government calls on the GMA to call of the partial strike with immediate effect.

Haruna IDDRISU (Hon.) MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR RELATIONS ACCRA