Transparency and Accountability Forum (TAF), a civil society group, has launched a scattering attack on government for the lack of commitment in solving the problems of doctors and pharmacists who have embarked on nationwide strike action.
The group criticized government�s decision to bring in Cuban doctors to take care of patients in Ghana, adding that �it is a misplaced priority and it shows that government has lost focus and has no clue in addressing the striking doctors� issue.�
Government doctors and pharmacists have embarked on a nationwide strike action to press home their demand for salary arrears and payment of market premium respectively.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the spokesperson for TAF, Saka Salia said government�s decision to bring in Cuban doctors to curtail the situation is bogus, stating that �it is about time government shows leadership and concern for the people by seeing to the demands of the doctors and pharmacists, otherwise we would not be surprise if impeachment proceedings are activated against government.�
�We vote governments into office to service the interest of the populace but it is becoming apparently alarming that this incorrigible government does not care a hoot about the plight of the people,� Salia said.
�Why can�t government commit itself to a simple letter or plan of payment of the doctor�s conversion difference to save the lives of its own people instead of this show of power business?� he quizzed.
Mr. Salia accused government of being reckless in its spending over the 2012 fiscal year cumulating in a budget deficit of GHC8.7 billion, equivalent to 12.1 percent of GDP.
He said �If such monies were invested in the doctors and pharmacists, we would not have this impasse.�
Mr. Salia said government priorities lie in payment of dubious judgment debts, dubious guinea fowl projects and afforestation and profligate campaign spending.
The government seems not to have money to pay legitimate demands of the pharmacists and the doctors, resulting in needless lost of lives due to the wanton dissipation of the country�s resources.
Touching on police directive that civil demonstrations had been temporarily banned, Mr. Salia said, �That Police order is unpopular, invidious and must therefore be condemned by all meaning Ghanaians. Peaceful demonstration is one of the foremost embodiment of democracy.�
He said the denial of that right cannot be right, adding that the curtailment of the freedom of assembly, demonstrations in a nascent democracy like ours is not reasonably expedient security wise, rather it has the tendency of creating security problems.
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