GMA accuses government of ‘buga buga’ approach to salary issues

The Ghana Medical Association has accused government of unilaterally determining their conditions of service without proper consultation.

In a communiqué issued after at the end of the 2nd National Executive Council meeting of the Association, is to hold a major press conference to clearly spell out the official GMA position on all outstanding issues on salaries and conditions of service.

The press conference will also outline a roadmap for the resolution of the inconsistencies so-identified the group said if government continued with those unilateral decisions, the gains made with the salary adjustments will be eroded.

The group will not disclose the exact decision taken against their interest but the Assistant General Secretary of the Association Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey said the association may have to adopt a more aggressive approach to getting their grievances resolved.

Below is the complete communiqué issued after the meeting.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 2ND NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE GHANA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HELD AT THE PALM HILL HOTEL AT AKROPONG-AKWAPIM IN THE EASTERN REGION FROM 23RD – 25TH MARCH, 2007.

We, members of the National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), assembled at the Palm Hill Hotel, Akropong-Akwapim in the Eastern Region, from 23rd-25th March, 2007, at the end of our 2nd National Executive Council Meeting for the year and having extensively discussed pertinent issues concerning the health sector in particular and the country at large, wish to make the following observations;

1. appreciative of the energies and enthusiasm exhibited by Ghanaians in the Ghana @ 50 celebrations and

2. noting that the GMA will itself be 50 next year

3. mindful of the importance of a safe and nurturing home environment to the overall health of the individual

4. that following salary negotiations exactly a year ago, Council has had cause on many occasions to point out through lawful channels, various inconsistencies bedevilling the satisfactory implementation of the new health service salary scheme

5. the reluctance on the part of government to respect clear-cut provisions outlined in the national labour law to resolve various labour disputes

6. the ensuing turbulence on the front of health workers in general.

Do hereby:
a. Call upon the government and we the people of Ghana to synchronize our energies and dynamism into fostering unity and development as a means of bringing a tangible change in the lives of every Ghanaian.

b. Resolve to use the occasion of our 50th anniversary to reflect on GMA's past contributions to good health and promise to continue to explore new ways in which the health of Ghanaians may be improved.

c. Hereby announce that the 8th Annual Public Lecture of the GMA will be held on May 16th -17th in Accra under the theme “Home Environment and Health”.

d. Has decided to hold a major press conference to clearly spell out the official GMA position on all outstanding issues on salaries and conditions of service and to outline a roadmap for the resolution of the inconsistencies so-identified

Dr. Francis Adu-Ababio Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey
President Asst. General Secretary