Doctors declare nationwide strike

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is embarking on a nationwide strike by close of day October 7, if their demands are not met. The GMA resolved to lay down their tools after an emergency national executive council meeting on Thursday. In a statement issued by the president and the deputy general secretary of the association, Dr. Emmanuel Adom Winful and Dr. Frank Serebour respectively, the GMA does not foresee their grievances being met by close of business on Friday and has therefore 'instructed all doctors to stop work and hold themselves in readiness for further instructions. ' The GMA is complaining about distortions in the grading structures of the Single Spine Pay Structure, issues of unscientific determination of Market Premium and inducement by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the inability of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to provide unequivocal evidence of migration of doctors onto the SSSS and the ambiguous stance of the Single Spine Salary Secretariat on the positions of District Directors of Health Service and Medical Superintendents. 'Looking at the stands of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission it appears unlikely that any attempt is being made to address our concerns. 'In the light of this, the National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association has decided that the road map as stated in the press statement issued in Tamale on the 24th of September, 2011 should come into effect. 'After 7th October 2011 if the conditions above are not met, the National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association after taking into consideration the frustrations and concerns of members, has instructed all doctors to stop work and hold themselves in readiness for further instructions,' the statement read in part.