Extension of doctors' strike is not to punish Ghanaians – Dr. Hardi

daniel russell

August 15, 2015 11:02 AM

A section of the public has described as “callous” the decision to extend the strike while negotiation is ongoing.

The decision by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to continue with its strike action is neither to punish government nor the public, a member of the union, Dr. Hardi Abdallah has said.

The Ghana Medical Association has been on strike for about two weeks now after their negotiations on conditions of service with government hit a deadlock and had vowed to resign en masse on Friday, August 14, if government fails to yield to their demands.

However, after a three-hour crucial General Assembly meeting held at the Ghana Medical Association offices at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday, the doctors decided to continue with their strike and review their decision after two weeks if government fails to meet their demands.

But Dr. Hardi on said “the extension of strike is not to punish government… we clearly understand the implications of these issues”.

“Monitoring social media you realise that majority of doctors support this stand. Government needs some advice and some of us will be ready to offer such advice,” he added.

Talks between government and the striking doctors have stalled on several occasions. While the doctors say government has not been negotiating with them in good faith, government has said it cannot negotiate under duress.

daniel russell