Strike: Doctors study gov’t counter-proposals

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has confirmed receiving counter-proposals from government over members’ demands for a proper collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Members of the Association have withdrawn their services from public health facilities after accusing government of not having engaged them properly.

They have threatened to resign en masse from the public sector if government fails to meet their demands by Friday, August 14.

Speaking to TV3’s Daniel Opoku on Monday, August 10, Dr Justice Yankson, the Deputy General Secretary of GMA, said Sunday’s meeting was very brief.

“We went into the meeting, government brought a document to us as their final position. We took it and thanked them and left.”

Dr Yankson added: “We also need to look at what is in that final proposition.”

But he hinted that their expectation of government, their employer, is to get them a “negotiated” and “signed” collective bargaining agreement.

“That is all we are asking the employer to do,” he stressed.

The doctors are scheduled to take a decision on government’s position on Tuesday, August 11, TV3 gathers.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Alex Segbefia has admitted difficulties in negotiations but says "that is normal in negotiations”.

He has also advised politicians to stay away from commenting on the issues, asking them to defer to the appropriate bodies mandated to deal with such issues.