THE UNITED Cadres’ Front (UCF) of the National Democratic Congress has described the striking doctors as ‘murderers’ for prioritizing their service condition at the expense of human life.
They added that, for the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) members to embark on strike and allow some patients to perish, it means ‘killing’ and called on government to “consider sacking” them should they persist with their illegal strike.
The UCF made this known at a news conference called yesterday to register their displeasure about the strike by the GMA, University Teachers Association of Ghana and some other bodies in the country.
Addressing the media, the General Secretary of UCF, Felix Efenam Nyaku said the manner of the strike by the doctors is geared towards blackmailing the efforts government was making and wondered why they are striking whilst aspects of the 1992 constitution stated otherwise.
“There is little doubt that strike actions are not the best way to settle grievances despite the fact that some people and groups may want to use it at all costs to get what they want.
“They often claim it is their democratic right, which is even supported by various clauses of the 1992 constitution. Be that as it may, and in most instances, some of these groups fail to look also at the other side of the same 1992 constitution which speaks for compliance with certain provisions while seeking one’s rights, that is, not embarking on strike action whilst at the negotiation table,” he pointed out.
Mr. Nyaku said, as much as the doctors have a right to negotiate their conditions of service, outrageous and unreasonable demands beyond every imagination cannot be entertained by any political regime.
“This the more reason why the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have shot themselves in the foot by taking political advantage of the situation with their anti-state press conference on the doctor’s strike.”
He intimated that, for eight years in power, NPP could not give the doctors any conditions of service because the country was declared Highly Indebted Poor Country.
“In the current state of severe economic challenges, how does the NPP expect the government to make payments that are most likely to derail the gains so far made to the extent of collapsing the single spine salary structure?
“The path, they say that you make, is the same path that you travel on. The question is; why have the media turned the issue of the doctors’ strike from what it should be into comparing the conditions of service of doctors with those of Article 71 holders?”
While commending the National Catholic Health Council for dismissing some 14 doctors who neglected their duties to embark on labour strike, they said, “We do not wish to state, at least for now, that the government should take any action that may lead to the dismissal of doctors to necessitate loyal and patriotic ones to re-apply.”
“But, we wish to register our appreciation, as cadres, for the action taken by the National Catholic Health Council as regards the dismissal of 14 doctors from the Techiman holy family hospital.”
This they said was an “admonition to reinforce the fact that no institution, more so a nation can survive and grow by blatant acts of indiscipline as exhibited by the disrespect of our national laws by the Ghana Medical Association.”
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