We Don't Trust Gov't- Say Striking Workers

Seth Terkper, Finance Minister.

AS THE strike action by civil and public workers entered day two yesterday, the striking workers said they were not in a hurry to call off the action because they did not trust the government, saying it had reneged in its promises on the second tier pension scheme.

According to the striking workers even the mandatory 13.5 percent SSNIT contribution by their employers – the government - was in arrears and therefore they didn't trust the government that there was any GH¢450 million sitting anywhere for transfer to their chosen fund managers.

They said government should pay the tier two pension funds to their chosen fund managers before they would call off the industrial action.

Members of the Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA) and Ghana Medical Association (GMA), health workers, as well as other public sector workers, including the Judicial Service Staff Association, Ghana Education

Service and CLOGSAG, have decided to go on indefinite strike in protest of the second tier pension scheme.

The mass industrial action is impeding the smooth delivery of medical care for the people, particularly in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and other health facilities across the country.

The nationwide industrial action is geared towards putting pressure on the government to release funds for the second tier pension scheme for their preferred fund managers.

The GMA has told its members to attend to only emergency cases and inpatients until the issue at hand was resolved.

Reports monitored by DAILY GUIDE indicated that several patients that visited hospitals in Kumasi became disappointed as they were turned away.

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was unusually quiet Thursday morning following the industrial action, which compelled disappointed looking patients that had visited the facility to return home unattended to.

They therefore implored the NDC government to quickly respond to the concerns and needs of the striking workers so that easy access to medical care in the city could be restored.

Korle-Bu
The situation was not different at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra as the place looked deserted yesterday.

Chairs at the facility had been turned upside down at the OPDs as no medical staff was there.

At the Ridge Hospital, there was some activity with a few doctors on duty.

CLOGSAG members in the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies

yesterday decided to join the strike and the days ahead look gloomy in the labour front.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi