The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has finally decided to suspend its 19 day strike with immediate effect.
A statement released Wednesday by the President of The Association, Dr. Adom Winful, said the National Executive Council of the Ghana Medical Association decided to call off the nationwide withdrawal of services embarked on by its members following an emergency meeting based on three major reasons;
1. The numerous appeals by well meaning Ghanaians and civil society groups both in and out of the country
2. Taking due cognizance of the compulsory arbitration and rules governing the process.
3. The current flood situation in Accra with its attendant humanitarian crisis.
The GMA said considering the many appeals, it was not worth continuing with the strike action and urged all doctors to return to duty as leaders continue negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission.
Whilst returning to work, the GMA was hopeful their grievances would be met.
The GMA embarked on a nationwide strike on October 8th, after the failure of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to address issues the doctors raised pertaining to their migration unto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS).
In a statement issued on October 7th, the GMA said "looking at the stance 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.
The GMA was 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.
Source: Beatrice Adepa Frempong/peacefmonline.com
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